Buntus 1

Bunts na Gaeilge
Irish for Adult Learners
Barbara Hillers with Bettina Kimpton
Textbook for Celtic 132: Introduction to Modern Irish

Harvard 2007
[for class use and private circulation only]
S OME W ORDS AND PHRASES FREQUENTLY USED IN CLASS

Here are a few idioms you will encounter in class:
maidin mhaith
Dia daoibh
le chile
anois
ars
cuir Gaeilge / Barla air
le do thoil
good morning
hello everybody
all together
now
again
translate into Irish / English
please
I don't quite follow...

Gabh mo leithscal
An dtuigeann t?
An dtuigeann sibh?
Tuigim
N thuigim
N thuigim focal
Abair ars , le do thoil
Cad sin i nGaeilge/as Gaeilge?
Cad sin i mBarla/as Barla?
Cad an Ghaeilge at ar sin?
Abair i mBarla/as Barla
Excuse me
Do you (sg) understand?
Do you (pl) understand?
I understand
I dont understand
I dont understand a word
Say that again, please
What does that mean in Irish?
What does that mean in English?
How do you say that in Irish?
Say it in English
Well done!
Your teacher will lavish praise on you. Here are some of the things you may hear, or see written
underneath your homework:
maith th / sibh
go maith
go hiontach
an-mhaith (ar fad)
ar fheabhas
thar barr
well done
good
wonderful
very good (entirely)
excellent
super
Bunts na Gaeilge
Cuid a hAon
I d'ige oscail do mheabhair
is bailigh an fhoghlaim leat.
Òpen your mind while you are young
and gather learning as you go.'
CLR / TABLE OF C ONTENTS

Ramhr / Preface.................................................................................................................... vii
Ceacht a hAon .......................................................................................................................... 1
An Ceacht Gramada...................................................................................................... 4
Personal Pronouns (4); The Demonstrative Pronouns seo and sin (4); The
Copula (5); Masculine Noun and Adjective (6); Greetings and
Introductions (6)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 10
Loanwords (11)
Ceacht a D ............................................................................................................................ 12
An Ceacht Gramada.................................................................................................... 13
The Article (13); Feminine Noun and Adjective (15); Prepositional
Pronouns: the Preposition le (16); Copula Sentences With le (17); The
Preposition gan (18)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 22
RAMHR / P REFACE
Ceacht a Tr ............................................................................................................................ 24
Possessive Pronouns (25); The Copula: Identification Sentences (27);
Prefixed Adjectives (28); Colours (29)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 32
Sil Siar (Revision): Ceacht 1 - Ceacht 3.................................................................................. 33
Ceacht a Ceathair .................................................................................................................... 34
The Substantive Verb and the Dependent Pronoun (35); The Preposition
ar (37); The Intensifying Prefixes an-, for-, r-, and iontach (38); The
Particle go (39); Conversational Idioms (39)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 42
Ceacht a Cig.......................................................................................................................... 44
The Preposition ag (45); The Preposition i (47); The Weather (47); The
Perfect Tense (48)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 51
Ceacht a S.............................................................................................................................. 53
Past Tense of the Substantive Verb (54); The Dative or Prepositional Case
(55); In the House (57); Idioms Using Two Prepositions (57)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 60
Ceacht a Seacht ....................................................................................................................... 63
The Future Tense of the Substantive Verb (64); Stative Expressions II:
Occupations (65); The Preposition i ìn' and the construction Minteoir
at ionam (65); (Countries) (66); Cpla à couple, a few' (66); The Week
(67)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 69
The Week (70); Samhain (Halloween) and the Celtic Year (71)
iv
RAMHR / P REFACE
Sil Siar (Revision): Ceacht 4 - Ceacht 7.................................................................................. 74

Ceacht a hOcht........................................................................................................................ 76
The Imperative (78); The Vocative Case (81); The Prepositions do and de
(83); In and Out, Up and Down: Aspect and Direction (84)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 86
Traditional Irish First Names (88)
Ceacht a Naoi.......................................................................................................................... 90
The Past Tense (92); The Numbers 1-10 (93); Where are You Going To?
(chuig; go; go dt) (95)
Teanga is Cultr .......................................................................................................... 99
Ceacht a Deich ...................................................................................................................... 101
An Ceacht Gramada.................................................................................................. 102
The Present Tense (102); The Present Habitual (106); Time (106)
Teanga is Cultr ........................................................................................................ 109
Ceacht a hAon Dag.............................................................................................................. 111
An Ceacht Gramada.................................................................................................. 112
The Future Tense (112); The Prepositions and roimh (115)
Teanga is Cultr ........................................................................................................ 117
Christmas and New Year (117)
Sil Siar (Revision): Ceacht 8 - Ceacht 11.............................................................................. 123
Appendix 1: Crsa Canna................................................................................................... 124
Appendix 2: Phonetic Exercises (Donegal Irish) .................................................................... 131
Bibliography ......................................................................................................................... 137
Foclir Gaeilge-Barla ........................................................................................................... 139
RAMHR / P REFACE
Foclir Barla-Gaeilge ........................................................................................................... 154

A Select Verb List ................................................................................................................. 179
Index of Songs, Proverbs, and Rhymes .................................................................................. 185
Subject Index......................................................................................................................... 187
Grammar Index...................................................................................................................... 188
vi
RAMHR / P REFACE
RAMHR / PREFACE
The Irish Language
Irish is used as a community language in the west of Ireland by about 61,000 speakers, and as a
minority language throughout Ireland.1 It is the first official language of the Republic of Ireland,2
and is taught in the primary and secondary school system. In the 1996 census 1.43 million
people in the Republic of Ireland (43.5% of the population) were returned as Irish speakers,
though only about a quarter of that number use the language on a daily basis. In Northern Ireland,
Irish has enjoyed increased demographic and political backing in recent years, and official
recognition of the language is expected. In the 1991 census, 142,003 people in the North were
returned as having some ability to speak the language.3 Irish is the primary community language
in the so-called Gaeltacht areas in the west of Ireland, located in counties Cork, Kerry, Galway,
Mayo, and Donegal, where an average of 76.3% of residents are Irish speakers ( Murch 1999).
There are significant numbers of native speakers living in urban areas, either migrants from
Gaeltacht areas or those brought up in Irish-speaking households.
Irish is a Celtic language, part of the Indo-European family of languages. It is closely
related to Scottish Gaelic, spoken today mainly on the Western Isles of Scotland, and to Manx,
the language of the Isle of Man that only recently ceased to be a spoken language. Its relationship
to the other two surviving branches of Celtic, Welsh and Breton, and to Cornish, which is spoken
as a revived language, is more distant, though all Celtic languages share certain syntactic,
phonological, and grammatical features, as well as a common inherited vocabulary. Like other
Celtic languages, Irish is a VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) language, possesses conjugated
prepositions and boasts a complex system of initial mutations.
About this Book
This textbook, developed specifically for the year-long Modern Irish course at Harvard
University, is intended for beginners with no previous exposure to the language. Its title, Bunts
na Gaeilge `the basics of Irish', is programmatic. It aims to give complete beginners a grasp of the
operative principles of grammar and syntax and provide them with the essentials of lexis and
idiom to achieve basic fluency within the year.
This textbook was developed to fill a recognized gap in the teaching materials for
complete beginners in third-level education. Most people in the Republic of Ireland, and many in
the North of Ireland, are introduced to the language during primary or secondary education, and
there is a wealth of textbooks, many of them modern and attractive, for school children. The
market for adult learners particularly complete beginners has not been as well provided for.
The need to improve teaching materials for adult learners is increasingly recognized, reflecting a
revival of interest in the language on both sides of the border, and the realization that many of
1
Helen and Mirtn Murch, Irish: Facing the Future / An Ghaeilge: a hAghaidh Roimpi (Dublin 1999).
Article 8.1 of the Constitution of Ireland (1937) states that `the Irish language as the national language is the first
official language'; 8.2 adds `the English language is recognized as a second official language'. The Irish language, as
of January 2007, has been recognized as one of the working languages of the European Union.
3
That many of these were small children in the burgeoning Irish-medium primary school system is evidenced by
the much lower number (79,012) returned as being able to read and write, as well as speak, Irish ( Murch 1999).
2
vii
RAMHR / P REFACE
those exposed to Irish at school have not achieved fluency in the language. Replacing the virtual
monopoly of the classic Bunts Cainte (1967), experienced educators have in recent years added
substantially to the materials available.4 Most adult learner textbooks are designed for what we
may think of as the part-time learner, typically within the setting of an evening class, and for all
their laudable emphasis on colloquial, conversational Irish, they are not suitable for students in
full-time third-level education.5 Bunts na Gaeilge addresses the needs of intensive language
instruction in an academic environment. The target audience are university students, and the
choice of milieu and subject matter, as well as the pace and style of instruction, is geared towards
this audience.
The Caighden and the Regional Dialects
Modern Irish is closely based on the three living regional dialects - Munster, Connacht, and
Ulster - which, at least in principle, enjoy equal status and support. It represents the victory, in
the early years of the language revival, of the proponents of the modern vernacular (caint na
ndaoine `the language of the people') over those who advocated a return to the highly
standardized idiom of Classical literature practiced by the educated elite until the seventeenth
century. Unchecked by any literary standard, regionalism flourished in the centuries before the
establishment of an independent Irish state. With the shrinking of the Gaeltacht areas, the added
problem of increasing geographical isolation of the dialects from each other arose.
When Irish became a literary, high-register language once again after independence, the
three main regional dialects, Munster, Connacht, and Ulster Irish, were, at least theoretically, put
on an equal footing.6 Munster Irish held a preeminent position during the formative years of the
language revival, even though today it is the dialect with by far the fewest native speakers.
Connacht Irish, too, had considerable cachet, since it was the native dialect of the father of
modern Irish literature, Pdraic Conaire, and the dialect adopted by such influential political
and literary figures as Patrick Pearse. Ulster Irish, represented in the Republic of Ireland by
speakers of a single county, Donegal, had for obvious reasons a lower profile in the Irish-language
establishment. While the differences between the three regional dialects are relatively minor on
the level of grammar and syntax, pronunciation differs markedly between them. The
recommendations of An Caighden Oifigiil (1945), which form the basis of Modern Standard
Irish, aim to define operative principles of grammar, and to establish a standard orthography
rather than pronunciation.
4
See e.g. amonn Dnaill, Now You're Talking / Irish on Your Own (Dublin, 1995) and Abair Leat! (Belfast
1996); Risteard Mac Gabhann, Crsa Closamhairc Gaeilge (Belfast 1991) and Ts Maith (Belfast 2002), and
Diarmuid S and Joseph Sheils, Teach Yourself Irish (London and New York, 1993).
5
A notable exception is Mchel Siadhail's Learning Irish, an excellent introduction to Connemara Irish. Its
admirable allegiance to the regional dialect in terms of grammar, syntax, lexis and even orthography makes it
difficult to use for teachers of any other variety of Irish.
6
The courageous if problematic guideline of An Caighden Oifigiil suggests às far as possible to avoid any form
or rule for which there isn't sound support in the living language of the Gaeltacht' and `to choose those forms whose
use is most widespread in the Gaeltacht' (chomh fada agus ab fhidir sin gan glacadh le foirm n riail nach bhfuil
dars maith di i mbeotheanga na Gaeltachta; rogha a dhanamh de na leaganacha is forleithne at in sid sa
Ghaeltacht, quoted from Gramadach na Gaeilge agus Litri na Gaeilge: An Caighden Oifigil, 1958, viii; my
translation).
viii
RAMHR / P REFACE
For the learner, an introduction to a consistent regional dialect was thought to be

desirable. Ulster Irish has never presented a more viable didactic choice than today. Its
prominence on both sides of the border is on the increase and is reflected in the media and
educational apparatus. There is much literature written in the dialect, most notably by the Mac
Grianna brothers from Rannafast, and a wealth of folklore publications collected in Donegal.7 For
the past two decade, Oideas Gael has run immersion language programs in a variety of locations
in Donegal, offering learners the chance to build on their course work and increase their fluency.
A number of strategies have been adopted to make the book as compatible as possible
with other varieties of Irish:
Wherever two words (or grammatical features) compete in Donegal Irish, the one with
the greater regional spread was chosen (e.g. of the two words used to denote `girl' in Donegal,
cailn and girseach, we chose cailn since it is also found in Munster and Connacht; similarly
the negative particle n, which is found throughout Ireland, is adopted rather than cha which
is only found in Ulster (as well as Scottish Gaelic); the use of cha is however covered in the
appendix that deals with issues of dialect, Crsa Canna.)
All forms not in general currency outside Ulster are clearly marked as Ulster forms by a
superscript U.
The dialect appendix lists the Ulster dialect features for each chapter and provides their
regional (Connacht or Munster) equivalents.
Bunts na Gaeilge: Structure and Content
This book aims to balance the needs for conversational and grammatical competence. The
textbook emphasizes students' active participation in the learning process: the aim is to generate
speakers of Irish, and the pace and structure of the textbook are designed to encourage active
rather than passive knowledge of the language; it is one thing to understand a grammar rule, quite
another thing to be able to generate it in natural speech. Many of the drills, games and exercises
are designed to improve oral competence. A crucial element in transforming language learners into
language speakers is to provide a relaxed and enjoyable environment where it is safe to make
mistakes, and where the learning process itself becomes fun. An element of playfulness in the
classroom is hugely beneficial, and may be fostered not only by various interactive games and
exercises, but also by the introduction of traditional songs and rhymes. Every Irish learner
remembers such items of traditional lore from their introduction to the language. Such items not
only serve to introduce students to Gaelic tradition; they are also fun, and are a proven aid to
learners by implanting memorable words, idioms, and syntactic patterns in the student's mind. I
have attempted to harness this resource and integrate it as closely as possible by selecting items
that reflect the grammar and vocabulary introduced in the corresponding chapter. The fact that
children's lore, including counting rhymes, songs and riddles, is well represented in the textbook is
not coincidental; it reflects the learner's gradually expanding vocabulary, and aims to infuse a
sense of playfulness conducive to the learning process.
Each lesson contains:
an alphabetized vocabulary list (foclir)
a dialogue or situational sketch (comhr)
7
For a small sample of literature in, or about, Ulster Irish, see Appendix 1: Crsa Canna.
ix
RAMHR / P REFACE
a discussion of grammar (an ceacht gramada), illustrated with model sentences

exercises (ceachtanna le danamh) to practice the new vocabulary, idioms, and grammar,
including both oral exercises designed for classroom use, and exercises specifically designed as
homework (obair bhaile)
a sample of traditional songs and sayings from Gaelic literature and folk culture (teanga is
cultr).
In addition, revision exercises encourage students to review the material periodically (Sil
Siar: Revision). A dialect appendix (Appendix 1: Crsa Canna) lists Ulster forms and their
southern equivalents, and discusses Ulster features of grammar and syntax. A second appendix
(Appendix 2: Phonetic Exercises) introduces students to the phonology of Donegal Irish. The
Irish-English and English-Irish glossaries (Foclir Gaeilge-Bearla and Barla-Gaeilge) contain all
words used in the lessons. Finally, three separate indices, including a grammar index and a subject
index, help students navigate the book.
Foclir (Vocabulary)
The glossary lists alphabetically all new words to be learnt in each new chapter. Ulster dialect
words or idioms are marked by a superscript U.
Comhr (Conversation)
Our goal was to generate reasonably natural conversation incorporating the new material
presented in each lesson. The imaginary characters featured in the dialogues tend to be modelled
on our target audience of university students. The students' urban and academic environment is
reflected in the vocabulary, hopefully enabling them to express their own concerns and activities.
At the same time, we have attempted to represent the more traditional lifestyles of the Gaeltacht
as well, resulting in an uneasy but realistic compromise in which the computer and the cell phone
coexist with farmyard terminology.
An Ceacht Gramada (Grammar)
Our aim was to create a graded grammar of the language, paced fast enough to allow us to cover
all the essential components of the language within the compass of the course, but slow enough
to allow a gradual process of assimilation, enabling students to master one feature before being
confronted with the next.
The teaching of abstract grammar has become somewhat unfashionable in recent years. It
is obviously not a prerequisite for successful language acquisition: the world's most successful
group of language learners are infants who succeed splendidly without the crutch of abstract
grammar, and indeed without any literacy skills. However, for our target audience of university
students, any textbook that eschews an analysis of the underlying rules governing the language
was found to be limiting and frustrating. No specialized knowledge of linguistic terminology is
required, although an awareness of basic grammatical principles is assumed among the target
audience, almost all of whom have studied another foreign language previously.
Ceachtanna le Danamh (Practice Exercises)
These include both exercises for classroom use and for written homework assignments.
RAMHR / P REFACE
Classroom exercises include drills, games, and partner work. Homework exercises always include
a translation into Irish. Many of the classroom exercises are also suitable as homework
assignments.
Teanga is Cultr (Language and Culture)
The traditional rhymes, songs and proverbs featured in Teanga is Cultr have been assembled
from a wide range of sources. I am particularly indebted to two collections of children's lore,
Nicholas Williams' comprehensive collection Cniogaide Cnagaide (cited as CC), and Roibeard
Cathasaigh's delightful collection Rabhla Rabhla (RR), which is accompanied by a CD. Another
book quoted repeatedly is Leabhar Shein U Chonaill (LSIC, ed. S. Duilearga), available in
translation as Sen Conaill's Book (SOCB). Traditional songs and proverbs are not generally
attributed, although some attractive collections have been listed in the bibliography; most items
are ubiquitously found in the oral and the printed record. I have taken certain didactic liberties
with the traditional materials, simplifying and occasionally modifying dialect forms. Unless
otherwise noted, all translations are provided by the author.8 I have occasionally provided notes
about Irish festivals and seasonal customs, Irish naming practices etc, to introduce American
students to aspects of traditional Gaelic culture.
Sil Siar (Revision)
At appropriate intervals, students are invited to revise the material mastered in the previous
lessons. Students will find revision exercises as well as a checklist of items they should be able to
produce.
Foclir Barla-Gaeilge agus Gaeilge-Barla (English-Irish and Irish-English Glossary)
The glossary lists all vocabulary items learned in individual lessons. The English-Irish glossary
contains much additional material. A modern text book should carry the message that Irish is a
living language, able to cope with technological advances and societal changes; and a conscious
attempt has been made to supply words not readily found in standard dictionaries - words such
as `CD,' ìnternet,' `condom' and `divorce.'
Gearrliosta Briathra (Select List of Verbs)
This lists the more important verbs with their principal parts (stem; 1 sg pres; verbal noun).
Audio Backup
The book is accompanied by an audiotape; for each lesson, the student can listen to a recording of
the vocabulary, of the conversational sketch, and of selected songs and poems. A separate tape
accompanies the phonetic exercises (Appendix 2), designed to introduce students to some of the
prominent features of the pronunciation of Donegal Irish.
Copyright permission for printed materials will be sought each time this textbook is made available to students.
xi
BUOCHAS / A CKNOWLEDGEMENTS
I am grateful to all my colleagues and friends with whom I have discussed the joys and
tribulations of teaching Irish, in particular Toms Cathasaigh, Patrick Ford, Kate Chadbourne,
Donna Wong and Brian Conchubhair. I am indebted to my co-author, Bettina Kimpton, whose
contribution to the conversational dialogues in particular helped to render them more colloquial.
She also undertook the arduous task of assembling the glossaries, contributed exercises and drills
and gave advice on dialect issues. I am deeply grateful to Matthieu Boyd for his meticulous
proofreading, for numerous helpful suggestions, corrections, and additions. All remaining errors
of fact or judgement are of course my sole responsibility. I am grateful to my students, who
inspired this book, and whose criticism helped to improve it: Meaghan Casey, Will Craig, Nancy
Dutton, Caitln Frame, Aidan Grey, Efren Gutierrez, Natalie Kirschstein, Matthew Knight,
Amanda Price, Nate Rogers, Maggie Rossman, Bridget Samuels, Matthieu Boyd, John Dillon,
Aled Llion Jones, Molly Hester, Brian Kennedy, Edyta Lehmann-Shriver, Sean Robinson and
Brendan Shields. To them, and to my first teacher of Irish, Professor Gearid Stockman of
Queen's University Belfast, this work is gratefully and affectionately dedicated.
xii
1
CEACHT A HA ON
FOCLIR 9
ach
dh mr!
ag
agus (also is)
as
Baile tha Cliath [blakl'ia]
beag
bean (f)
beannachta (pl of beannacht, f)
Barla (m)
bocsaU bruscair
buachaill (m), pl: buachaill
c / c hit
cad U
cailc (f)
cailn (m), pl: cailn
cathaoir (f)
c
ceart go leor
cinnte
clr dubh (m)
cliste
deas
Dia duit
Dia is Muire duit
doras (m)
, emphatic eisean
ireannach, pl ireannaigh
fear (m)
fostaU
fuinneog (f)
Gaeilge (f)
gasr (m)
glantir (m)
, emphatic ise
iad, emphatic iadsan
9
but
good luck, good byeU
at, by
and
from
Dublin
small
woman
greetings
English
waste paper basket
boy, lad
where?
what?
chalk
girl
chair
who?
indeed, right enough
certain, certainly
blackboard
clever, smart
nice
Hello (`God to you')
Hello (responsive; `God and Mary to you')
door
he/him
Irish (adj); Irish person
man
also
window
Irish language
small boy
duster
she/her
they/them
U
(f) feminine gender; (m) masculine gender; Ulster Irish dialect form (see dialect appendix for standard Irish form).
CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE
is (verb)
is (conj.)
leabhar (m)
cipleabhar (m)
mac linn (m), pl: mic linn
maidin (f)
maith
mla (m)
m, emphatic mise
minteoir (m), pl: minteoir
Meiricenach
Meiricenaigh
mr
muid, emphatic muidinneU
n
n
nua
oche (f)
pipar (m)
piste (m)
peann (m)
peann luaidhe (m)
rang (m)
an rang Gaeilge (m)
scoil (f)
seo
seomra (m)
seomra scoile (m)
sibh, emphatic sibhse
sin
sln
suimiil
tblaU (m)
t, emphatic tusa
is (3 sg verb `to be')

and
book
notebook
student
morning
good
bag
I/me
teacher
American (noun or adjective)
Americans
big
we/us
than
nor
new
night
paper
child
pen
pencil
class
the Irish class
school
this
room
schoolroom
you (pl)
that
goodbye
interesting
table
you (sg)
COMHR
I. Sen and Mire introduce themselves.

Mire: Dia duit.
Sen: Dia is Muire duit.
Mire: Is mise Mire. C tusa?
Sen: Is mise Sen.
Mire: C as t?
Sen: Is as Bal Feirste m. Agus t fin?

Mire: Is as Baile tha Cliath m.
II. Nra is waiting with her baby carriage at the bus stop. A young man joins her.
Niall: Dia duit.
Nra: Dia is Muire duit.
Niall: An cailn ?
Nra: N hea. Is gasr . Seo Brian.
Niall: Is gasr bre .
Nra: Is piste maith ceart go leor.
III. Mire, the Irish teacher, comes to the classroom early, where she finds a young woman
reading a book:
Mire: Is leabhar maith sin, nach ea?
Aisling: Sea, cinnte.
Mire: An mac linn nua t?
Aisling: Sea. Is mise Aisling. C tusa? An mac linn tusa?
Mire: N hea. Is minteoir m. Is mise Mire. C as t, a Aisling?
Aisling: Is as Bostn m. Agus t fin? An ireannach t?
Mire: Sea. Is as Baile tha Cliath m.
An Seomra Scoile
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. Forainmneacha Pearsanta (Personal Pronouns)
There are two sets of personal pronouns in Irish. One set is used only with the conjugated verb
(`dependent pronouns': see Ceacht 4),; the other set is used if a pronoun, whether a subject or an
object pronoun, is used independently.
Independent Pronouns
Regular
m
th/t
muid
sibh
iad
I (also: me)
you (sg.)
he (also: him)
she (also: her)
we (also: us)
you (pl.)
they (also: them)
Emphatic
mise
tusa
eisean
ise
muidinneU
sibhse
iadsan
1.2 The word fin `self' can also be used to emphasize a pronoun:
m fin
t fin
fin
fin
muid fin
sibh fin
iad fin
2. The Demonstrative Pronouns seo and sin

The demonstrative pronouns seo `this' and sin `that' can be combined with a noun or pronoun to
form a complete sentence:10
Seo peann.U
Sin leabhar.U
Sin !
Cad seo? Seo peann.U
This (is a) pen.

That (is a) book.
That's it, that's right.
What is this? This is a pen.
Seo can also mean `here', and sin `there' (as reflected in the words anseo `here', and ansin `there'):
Seo .
Seo Sen.
10
Here she is.

Here comes Sen.
In Connacht and Munster Irish, a pronoun is needed in this construction: seo peann.
3. An Chopail (The Copula)

There are two verbs of being in Irish, the copula is and the substantive verb t. The copula is
used to express inalienable qualities, not unlike Spanish ser. It is used to classify and identify
things. The substantive verb, which we will encounter in Ceacht 4, is used, much like Spanish
estar, to describe more temporary states and qualities.
The copula has only a single form in the present tense, is.11 As its name suggests (from
Latin `link'), the copula serves to join the subject and predicate of a sentence together in a
relationship of equivalence:
Is peann .
It is a pen.
The pronoun in the copula sentence generally agrees with the noun in number and gender:
Cad seo? Is leabhar .
Cad sin? Is fuinneog .
What is this? It's a book.

What's that? It's a window.
The subject can be emphasized through the use of the demonstrative pronouns seo `this' and sin
`that':
Is leabhar seo.
This is a book.
The copula is used to classify or identify people or objects. It also serves to emphasize a word or
phrase by `fronting' it. Itself unstressed, the copula thus always introduces the stressed phrase:
Is as Bostn m.
Is maith an bhean .
I am from Boston.
She is a good woman.
The Forms of the Copula
Affirmative:
Negative:
Interrogative:
Neg. interrogative:
is
n
an
nach
Is peann .
N peann .
An peann ?
Nach peann ?
It is a pen.
It is not a pen.
Is it a pen?
Isn't it a pen?
3.1. `Yes' and `No'

There is no word for yes or for no in Irish. Instead we respond with a form of the verb used in
the question (the `responsive'). Since the copula is unstressed and cannot stand on its own, the
answer to a copula question includes is / n plus something else, in the case of the copula
sentences so far either sea (<is ea ìt is') or n hea (ìt is not'):
11
The copula used to have a full verbal paradigm, but all forms except the 3 sg m is fell out of use after the Old Irish
period.
An minteoir ? Sea.
Is she a teacher? Yes.
Nach ireannach th? N hea.
Arent you Irish? No, I'm not.
An peann sin? N hea. Is peann luaidhe . Is that a pen? No, it's a pencil.
Instead of answering in a complete clause, one may use the conjunction ach `but:'
An peann sin? N hea ach peann luaidhe.
Nach dochtir th? N hea ach mac linn.
Is that a pen? No, it's a pencil.

Aren't you a doctor? No, I'm a student.
4. Ainmfhocal agus Aidiacht (Masculine Noun and Adjective)

Most adjectives in Irish follow the nouns they modify. Thus à good book' is expressed as
leabhar maith:
Is leabhar seo.
Is leabhar maith seo.
This is a book.
This is a good book.
5. Beannachta (Greetings and Introductions)

5.1. Saying hello
Dia duit (daoibh if to more than one person) God to you
Dia is Muire duit/daoibh
God and Mary to you (in response)
Maidin mhaith.
Good morning.
5.2. Introducing yourself
Is mise Mire.
C tusa?
I am Mary.
Who are you?
5.3. Asking where someone's from

C as t?
Is as Baile tha Cliath m.
Where are you from?

I am from Dublin.
Bal Feirste
Doire
Tr Chonaill
Gaillimh
Meirice
Bostn
Nua Eabhrac
Belfast
Derry
County Donegal
Galway
America, USA
Boston
New York
5.4. Saying goodbye

Sln! (< go dt t sln)
dh mr!
Oche mhaith!
Bye-bye (literally `may you go safely')

Good luck, good byeU
Good night
CEACHTANNA LE DANAMH
1. Look around the classroom. Ask each other the question cad sin/seo? pointing at the objects
you know, and make up an answer using sin/seo:
Cad sin? Sin peann.
What is that? That's a pen.
2. Read the following sentences, and identify their subjects and predicates:
Is ireannach m.
I am Irish.
Is mac linn t.
You are a student.
Is minteoir .
She is a teacher.
Is leabhar .
It is a book.
Is mic linn muid.
We are students.
Is Meiricenaigh sibh.
You (pl) are Americans.
Is ireannaigh iad.
They are Irish people.
3.
a) Translate:
1. I am a student.
2. She is a girl.
3. He is a teacher.
4. She is an Irish person.
5. It is a bag.
6. We are students.
7. They are teachers.
8. You (pl) are girls.
9. I am an American.
10. It is a book.
b) Now, convert these sentences into:
Negative statements, e.g. I am not a student.
Questions, e.g. Am I a student?
Negative questions, e.g. Am I not a student?
The first sentence has been done for you:
I am a student.
Is mac linn m.
Negative:
N mac linn m.
Question:
An mac linn m?
Negative Question:
Nach mac linn m?
4. Look around the classroom again. Pointing at objects and asking each other cad sin/seo?, now
use the construction is peann etc. in the answer. Respond with another question (a very Irish
strategy!) using nach, then answer first in the affirmative, then in the negative:
A: Cad sin?
What is that?
B: Is peann .
A: Nach peann luaidhe ?
B: Sea.
N hea ach peann.
or: N hea. Is peann .
It is a pen.
Is it not a pencil?
Yes (i.e. it is a pencil rather than a pen).
No, it's a pen.
5. Cluiche Cainte (Òral Game'): Postanna (`Jobs')

Each student is given a card with his or her `profession', and with the profession of a person they
have to search for. Students ascertain their partner as quickly as possible by asking everyone in
class whether theirs is the right profession:
A: An minteor t?
B: N hea. Is mac linn m. Agus t fin?
A: Is banaltra mise.
A (trying again): An minteoir t?
C (delighted): Sea. An banaltra tusa?
A (delighted): Sea cinnte!
Postanna (Professions)
banaltra (f)
ccaire (m)
lachtir (m)
ceoltir (m)
pobaire (m)
feirmeoir (m)
dochtir (m)
rna (m)
freastala (m)
file (m)
nurse
cook
lecturer
musician
piper
farmer
doctor
secretary (administrator)
waiter/waitress
poet
6. Add adjectives to the following sentences:

1. An peann sin?
2. An mac linn ?
3. Is fear .
4. Nach leabhar seo?
5. N minteoir m.
7. Cuir Gaeilge air (`Translate into Irish'):
1. He is a little boy.
2. Are you a good student?
3. Isnt she a good teacher?

4. This is not a big book.
5. She is a tall girl.
8. Have a short introductory conversation with one of your classmates. Introduce yourself, and
ask who s/he is and where s/he is from. Then introduce your classmate to the rest of the class.
Here is an example:
a) Interview:
C: Dia duit. Is mise Caitln. C tusa?
S: Is mise Sen.
C: C as t?
S: Is as Nua Eabhrac m. Agus t fin?
C: Is as California m. An mac linn t?
S: Sea. Agus tusa?
C: Mise fosta.
b) Presentation:
C: Seo Sen. Is mac linn . Is as Nua Eabhrac .
S: Seo Caitln. Is as California . Is mac linn fosta.
Obair Bhaile
1. Write a conversation in which two students meet for the first time.
2. Write ten sentences identifying objects in your picture of a classroom, using the construciton is
cailc or seo/sin cailc.
3. Cuir Gaeilge air:
1. It is an interesting book.
2. She is a good teacher.
3. We are from Galway.
4. Is he a good student?
5. He is a nice man, isn't he?
6. She's a smart girl.
7. This is a good class.
8. Are you (pl) students? No.
9. Arent they from Dublin?
10. This is not a new book.
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Riteachas (Saying)
Mise agus tusa agus ruball na muice.
I and you and the pig's tail.

(all and sundry)
Greetings
The traditional greeting Dia duit `God to you' and its responsive Dia is Muire duit `God and
Mary to you' (short for Go mbeanna Dia ... duit `May God ... bless you'), has gone somewhat
out of fashion in recent years, being rarely used by younger native speakers who increasingly use
haile `hallo'. It is however still widely used, especially by the older generation. Instead of a
formal greeting it is also very common to ask the person you meet how s/he is (see Ceacht 4) or
to exchange a comment about the weather (see Ceacht 5).
Loanwords
Throughout its long history, Irish has borrowed freely from other languages, and loanwords
provide us with a revealing cross section of Irish cultural history.
The earliest stratum of major borrowing is from Latin. Christianity was introduced to
Ireland in the early fifth century, and apparently received enthusiastically, or at least without the
prolonged hostility it received in other parts of pagan northern Europe. Along with the new
religion came literacy and a new educational system reflected in the Irish educational vocabulary:
scoil
< schola `school'
cathaoir
< cathedra `chair'
cailc
< calx `chalk, pebble'
peann
< penna `feather, quill'
leabhar
< liber `book'
lann
< legendum `learning' (as in mac linn `son of learning, student')
lacht
< lectio `lecture' (cf. also leachtir `lecturer' [B&I] / `professor' [US]).
Between the ninth and the eleventh century, the Vikings had a significant presence in
Ireland (`they came to raid and stayed to trade'). Linguistic borrowings are mainly in the areas of
ship building and trading, one of the trade imports being beoir `beer' (from Old Norse bjrr). Like
English, Irish borrowed the word for window from the Vikings:
fuinneog
< vind auga `wind eye'
The Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169 introduced not only Norman French,
spoken by the nobility, but also English, spoken by many of the mercenaries and subordinates.
Irish borrowed heavily from Norman French, including sophisticated architectural terms, and
10
terms describing luxury goods:

Seomra
< Fr. chambre `room'
tbla
< Fr. table `table'
lampa
< Fr. lampe `lamp'
pipar
< Middle Engl. `paper'
The encroachment of English was not a gradual and inexorable process; in the centuries
after the invasion, Irish recovered much of the ground it had lost during the invasion. No
concerted effort to repress the Irish language was made before the fourteenth century, and the
repressive measures introduced with greater or lesser success in the succeeding centuries had little
impact on the spoken language of the common people, being primarily directed against the native
aristocracy. It was not until the broad-based educational measures of the nineteenth century, such
as the introduction of an English-medium national school system in 1831, that English made rapid
inroads on the vernacular. The volume of borrowing from English is massive and the process is
ongoing. One example will suffice:
bocsa (as in bocsa bruscair) < box.
11
2
CEACHT A D
FOCLIR
ainmh (m), pl anmhaithe (3)
amhrn (m)
anseo
arn (m)
ard
bainne (m)
bn
bia (m)
b (f)
bre
is bre liom
bunchimeach
caife (m)
caora (f), pl caoraigh (3)
capall (m)
cat (m)
c acu
cearc (f)
ceart go leor
ceol (m)
chomh maith
cste (m)
cliste
cosil le
crsa, pl crsa (m)
dubh
an (m)
eile
fearr (comparative of maith)
feirm (f)
feoil (f)
fon (m)
fionn
fuath (m)
gach
gan
glasra (m pl)
hata
animal
song
here
bread
tall
milk
white
food
cow
lovely
I like/love
undergraduate
coffee
sheep
horse
cat
which one
chicken
right enough, allright
music
as well
cake
intelligent
like
course
black
bird
other
better
farm
meat
wine
blond
hate
every
without
vegetables
hat
12
iarchimeach
Indiach
Iodileach
is cuma liom
is cuimhin liom
l (m)
lag
lidir
le
lachtir (m)
madadhU (m)
mar sin
marbh
milsen (m), pl: milsein
muc (f)
n miste liom
n
obair (f)
g
ollscoil (f)
prta rsta
rince (m)
rua
rud (m)
sa bhaile
srid (f)
suimiil
tae (m)
tana
uachtar reoite (m)
uisce (m)
postgraduate
Indian (noun or adjective)
Italian (noun or adjective)
I don't mind / I don't care
I remember
day
weak
strong
with
lecturer (B&I); professor (US)
dog
therefore, then
dead
candy (sweets)
pig
I don't mind
or
work
young
university
roast potatoes
dance
red-haired
thing
at home
street
interesting
tea
thin
ice cream
water
COMHR
Liam and Sle are planning to have their friends Pdraign and Donncha over for dinner:
Liam: An maith leat bia Iodileach? N an fearr leat feoil agus prta rsta?
Sle: Is cuma liomsa, ach n maith le Pdraign bia Iodileach.
Liam: Is fuath li pasta, ceart go leor. Feoil is prta mar sin, agus glasra chomh maith. C acu is
fearr leat, fon bn n fon dearg?
Sle: Fon dearg. An maith le Donncha uachtar reoite?
Liam: N cuimhin liom, ach is maith leis cste agus milsein eile, cinnte. Agus is bre liomsa
uachtar reoite.
Sle: Is bre liomsa fosta .... An maith leat an ollscoil, a Liam?
13
CEACHT A D / LESSON TWO
Liam: Is maith. Is fearr liom an bia sa bhaile, ach is maith liom gach rud eile anseo. Is bre liom mo
chrsa.
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. An tAlt (The Article)
There is no indefinite article in Irish. To say à book', we simply say leabhar; à good book' is
leabhar maith.
The definite article, feminine and masculine, is an (na in the plural):
leabhar
an leabhar
a book
the book
The definite article can affect the first letter of the noun it modifies. This phenomenon, called
initial mutation, occurs in a wide variety of contexts, and is typical of all Celtic languages. The
most common mutation is the simhi `lenition.' This mutation (sometimes also called
àspiration') is realized in a majority of the consonants involved as fricatization:
Simhi (Lenition)
Lenition affects the voiced plosives `b' `d' `g', the unvoiced plosives
`p' `t' `c', the labial `m', and the fricatives `f' and `s'. It is marked by
inserting `h' after those letters:
bhean
dhoras
ghasr
pheann
theach
cheann
mhac linn
fhuinneog
shrid
Lenition also affects the pronunciation of the liquids `l' `n' `r', but
this is not represented in writing. Lenition does not affect vowels or
the consonants / consonant clusters h, sc, sp, st, sm.
1.1. The definite article causes lenition of feminine nouns:

bean
a woman
an bhean
the woman
fuinneog
a window
an fhuinneog
the window
If a feminine noun begins with a vowel, there is no change, since vowels cannot be lenited:
an obair
the work
If a feminine noun begins with an `s' (including `sr' `sn' or `sl' but NOT `sc' `sp' `st' `sm'), the
14
article will prefix a `t':

srid
an tsrid
a street
the street
1.2. The article causes no change to a masculine noun beginning with a consonant:
an fear
an cailn
the man
the girl
but it will prefix a `t-'12 to masculine nouns beginning with a vowel:

an t-an
an t-uisce
the bird
the water
2. An tAinmfhocal agus an Aidiacht (Feminine Noun and Adjective)

2.1. Adjectives following a feminine noun receive simhi, whether or not the article is present:
maidin mhaith
Good morning!
an mhaidin mhaith
the good morning
srid mhr fhada
a big long street
an tsrid mhr fhada
the big long street
2.2. Lenition is frequently prevented in a variety of grammatical and semantic contexts where a
word ending in `n' (or, less commonly, in `d') precedes a word beginning in a `d,' `t' or `s'
(`homorganic' or `dental rule'). For this reason, lenition of the feminine noun or adjective may be
prevented: the definite article, e.g., does not lenite a feminine noun if it starts with `d' or `t'; if it
starts with an `s', the feminine article prefixes a `t' instead. Similarly, if the feminine noun ends in
`n', and the adjective begins with a `d' or `t' or `s', the adjective is not lenited.
Dental Rule
Lenition is usually prevented when homorganic consonants, i.e.
consonants that are produced in the same area of the mouth, come
together. Thus the dental plosives `d' and `t' and the fricative `s' are
not lenited after the nasal `n' ( Siadhail 1989, 6.2.1(v)):
an Dil
bean deas
seanteach
gan dabht
assembly; the Dil (Irish legislature)

a nice woman
an old house
without a doubt
12
Irish orthography uses the hyphen as sparingly as possible; the hyphen is only used if prefixing a letter might
otherwise give rise to ambiguity. For instance, a prefixed `h' needs no hyphen, since `h' is not a normal letter in the
Irish alphabet; similarly the combination `ts' is unambiguous, since it does not occur naturally. If `t' is prefixed to a
vowel, on the other hand, it needs to be hyphenated to disambiguate (an t-each `the stallion' versus an teach `the
15
Note that this is a descriptive rather than a prescriptive rule, and there is considerable variety of
usage even within one dialect. Non-lenition is best regarded as a strong tendency; lenited and nonlenited forms co-exist in all dialects. Siadhail points out that an attributive adjective is more
likely to be lenited than a noun (1989, 6.2.1(v)2).
2.2. Adjectives following a masculine noun remain unchanged:
an fear maith
the good man
3. Forainmneacha Ramhfhoclacha: An Ramhfhocail le (Prepositional Pronouns: the

Preposition le `with')
One of the characteristic features of all Celtic languages is their use of so-called `prepositional
pronouns.' Prepositional pronouns are, in effect, conjugated prepositions, incorporating in one
word a pronoun and a preposition: English `with me' is expressed in a single word liom.
3.1. Here is the conjugated paradigm of the preposition le `with':
liom
leat
leis
li
with me
with you (sg)
with him
with her
LE `with'
linn
libh
leo
with us
with you (pl)
with them
Like the personal pronoun, the prepositional pronoun also has

emphatic forms, with similar endings:
liomsa
leatsa
leis-sean
lise
linne
libhse
leosan
3.2. Liom Fin

If the prepositional pronoun liom (etc) is followed by the word fin `self,' it has the meaning of
`by myself,' àlone':
Mise liom fin
I alone, by myself.
3.3. Prefixing `h'

Le does not cause mutation of a following consonant, but will prefix `h' to a word beginning with
a vowel:
house'), except when the noun is capitalized (an tireannach `the Irish person').
16
Is maith le hine fon dearg.
ine likes red wine.

Prefixing `h'
Little words ending in a vowel that neither lenite nor eclipse (see
Ceacht 3), prefix `h' to words beginning with a vowel:
le hine
a hathair
go hlainn
with ine
her father
beautiful
4. Copula Sentences With le

4.1 Ownership
Le can also be used with the copula to express ownership. The emphatic paradigm of the
prepositional pronoun is typically used:
Is liomsa .
An leatsa seo?
Is cara liom .
It is mine.
Is this yours?
She is a friend of mine.
4.2 Other Idioms with le

Le is also used with adjectives in copula sentences to form a number of expressions, mostly to do
with likes and dislikes:
Is maith liom tae.
Is fearr liom caife.
Is fuath le Sen .
Is bre linn .
Is cuma liom.
An miste leat?
N miste liom.
Is cuimhin liom .
I like tea.
I prefer coffee.
Sen hates it.
We love it.
It is all the same to me, I don't care.13
Do you mind?
I don't mind / I don't care.14
I remember him.
4.2.1. These sentences can be converted into questions or negative statements by using the
interrogative and negative forms of the copula:
13
Normally used when one is equally agreeable to two options: Àn fearr leat tae n caife?' Ìs cuma liom.' `Do
you prefer tea or coffee?' Ì don't mind'. When followed by the preposition faoi àbout' it means Ì don't care for...':
Is cuma liom faoi fhilcht Ì don't care for poetry', and Is rchuma liom faoi Bhill Clinton Ì can't stand Bill
Clinton.'
14
More often than not used in the negative rather than the affirmative.
17
An maith leat tae?

N maith li seo.
Nach maith leat do dhinnar?
Do you like tea?

She doesnt like this.
Don't you like your dinner?
4.2.2. The answer to a question will include the copula and the adjective/predicate:
An maith leat Bostn?
Do you like Boston?
Is maith. / N maith.
I do. / I don't.
4.2.3. Note the use of the conjunctions n òr' and n `nor:'
An maith leat tae n caife?
Do you like tea or coffee?
N maith liom tae n caife.
I like neither tea nor coffee.
Note also the conjunction n `than' used when comparing two things to each other:
Is fearr liom tae n caife.
I like tea better than coffee /I prefer tea to coffee.
5. The Preposition gan `without'
The preposition gan `without' causes simhi:
gan bhrg
gan mhaith
without a shoe
useless, without benefit
However, if the noun it modifies begins with a d, t, s (or f) there is no simhi, since d/t/s resist
lenition after `n' (see Ceacht 2 `Dental Rule'):
gan dabht
without a doubt.
In addition, personal names are not lenited, nor is a noun lenited if it is modified:
gan Mchel
gan cuidi ar bith
without Michael
without any help.
1. Write out the following nouns with the article: arn, bean, cailc, doras, fuinneog, leabhar, scoil,
obair, cathaoir, pipar, tbla, srid, an.
2.1a) Incorporate adjectives into the following classification sentences:
is capall
> is capall maith
is muc
is cat
is peann
is cailc
is bean sin
18
b) Now turn these into questions and provide answers:

is capall maith
> an capall maith ? Sea / N hea
3. Cluiche: Fiche Ceist
Play the game of `20 Questions' with your partner. Use words such as beag, mr, maith, deas,
cliste, ciin, lidir, lag:
A: An ainmh ?
B: Sea.
A: An ainmh mr ?
B: N hea.
A: An madadh ?
B: N hea.
A: An cat ?
B: Sea!
1. We don't like American food.
2. Do you (pl) like music? Yes.
3. She likes tea, but she prefers coffee.
4. It is not yours, it is Brds.
5. I love strong tea.
6. Does she like the university?
7. They hate the food here, but they love the weather.
8. Dont you remember that song?
9. Is that coffee yours?
10. We remember that morning.
5. Suirbh Beag: An maith leat ...?
Find out from your partner how they feel about some of the items listed below. Then represent
their opinions to the class.
1. caife dubh
2. ccaireacht (`cooking')
3. Bostn
4. Starbucks
5. Madonna
6. ire
7. Daid na Nollag (`Father Christmas')
8. Peil Mheiricenach (Àmerican Football')
9. bia Indiach
10. Leabharlann Widener (`Widener Library')
11. an aimsir i Massachusetts (`the weather in Mass.')
12. uisce fuar
13. ceol tre (`Country & Western music')
14. oinniin (ònions')
6. C acu is fearr leat?
Ask your partner which of the options below they prefer:
19
peil / snmh (`football / swimming')

ccaireacht / rince (`cooking / dancing')
ire / Meirice
tae / caife
caife bn / caife dubh
madadh / capall
fon bn / fon dearg
an amharclann / an phictirlann (`the theatre / the cinema')
Bostn / Nua Eabhrac (`Boston / New York')
cste / uachtar reoite (`cake / ice cream')
bia Iodileach / bia Indiach (Ìtalian food / Indian food')
an Ghaeilge / Barla
Sampla: `C acu is fearr leat, peil n snmh?' - Ìs maith liom peil ach is fearr liom snmh.
/ Is fearr liom peil n snmh.'
Obair Bhaile
1. Label as many of the items in the farmyard picture below as you can in Irish. Make use of the
definite article.
20
2. a) Cuir Barla air (translate into English):
Seo Niall Dnaill. Is mac linn ag Ollscoil Harvard . Is as Nua Eabhrac . Is Meiricenach ,
ach is as irinn a athair (`his father'). N maith leis Bostn; is fearr leis Nua Eabhrac. Is maith leis
ccaireacht agus rince. N maith leis staidar ach is bre leis an Ghaeilge agus Barla. Is maith leis
an minteoir Barla, ach is fearr leis an minteoir Gaeilge!
Seo Leah Mller. Is as an Ghearmin . Is lachtir ag Ollscoil Bostn. Is maith li Bostn, agus
is maith li an ollscoil - is bre li leabhair. Is fuath li an Ghearmin; is fearr li Meirice. Is maith
li rince agus caife lidir.
b) Write blurbs about two of the following:
Pierre Victoire (Frainceach / as an Fhrainc)
Enrico de Gamba (Spinneach / as an Spinn)
Count Dracula (Rmineach / as an Rmin)
Giuseppe Verdi (Iodileach / as an Iodil)
Mirn N Ghallchir (as an Ghaeltacht / ireannach / as irinn)
3. Make up an identity card about yourself. NB Only reveal things which you don't mind sharing
with the class!
Example:
Is mise Aisling. Is mac linn bunchimeach ag Ollscoil Harvard m. Is ireannach m; is as
Baile tha Cliath m. Is cailn ard tana m, agus is duine ciin m. Is maith liom bia Iodileach
ach is fearr liom bia Indiach. N maith liom sport. Is bre liom Meirice ach is fuath liom George
Bush. Is maith liom mo chrsa. Is bre liom an Ghaeilge.
4. Cuir Gaeilge air seo:
1. I like this new hat.
2. She likes tea, but she prefers coffee.
21
3. They hate American food.

4. We love the weather here.
5. That good horse is mine.
6. Do you like this university? Yes.
7. Mire doesnt like the cake, but she loves the ice cream.
8. Do you (pl) like the book? No.
9. Is this pen yours?
10. Does he remember the song?
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Seanfhocail (`Proverbs')
Marbh le tae, agus marbh gan .
Damned if you do, and damned if you don't.
Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste n Barla cliste.
Broken Irish is better than clever English.

Rann (`Rhyme')
Is maith liom bainne
I like milk
I like tea
I like sleep
at the end of the day.
Is maith liom tae

Is maith liom codladh
Ag deireadh an lae.
(CC #333)
Amhrn: Nra Bheag (`Song: Little Nra')

Is maith le Nra prta rsta
Is maith le Nra im leo
Is maith le Nra pis agus pnaire
Is bainne na b san oche.
(CC #204a)
Nra likes roasted potatoes

Nra likes butter with them
Nra likes peas and beans
And cow's milk at night.
Seanfhocail Eile (`More Proverbs')

The copula is often used to emphasize. If one wants to stress a certain quality in a person or
object, one moves the adjective to the front, directly following the copula; is fear maith
becomes is maith an fear . This construction is very common in traditional idioms and proverbs:
22
Is maith an t-anlann an t-ocras.
Hunger is a good sauce.
Is trom an t-ualach aineolas.
Ignorance is a heavy burden.
Is trom cearc i bhfad.
Even a hen is heavy when carried far.
Is mr an rud gr n eagla.
Love or fear will move mountains.
Is buaine cl n saol.
Fame is more lasting than life.
23
3
CEACHT A TR
FOCLIR
ainm (m)
athair (m)
bal (m)
bean chile (f)
bocht
bolg (m)
bthar (m)
brste (m)
bu (m. noun and adj)
cailiil
cara (m)
ceann (m)
ceoltir (m)
clann (f)
cluas (f)
cos (f)
cro (m)
dath (m), pl dathanna
dearg (m. noun and adj)
dearthir (m)
deirfir (f)
dlodir (m)
dochtir (m)
donn (m. noun and adj)
dorcha
droch- (prefix)
duine (m)
fear cile (m)
feirmeoir (m)
geansa (m)
glas (m. noun and adj)
glin (f)
gorm (m. noun and adj)
hata (m)
inon (f)
is trua , is trua sin
lmh (f)
leanbh (m)
name
father
mouth
wife
poor
stomach
road
trousers
yellow
famous
friend
head
musician
children
ear
foot
heart
colour
red
brother
sister
lawyer
doctor
brown
dark
bad
person
husband
farmer
jumper (B&I) / sweater (US)
green (as in vegetation); also grey/blue
knee
blue
hat
daughter
it's a pity, that's a pity
hand
child
24
CEACHT A TR / LESSON THREE
liath (m. noun and adj)

mac (m)
mthair (f)
post (m)
saibhir
scal
sean, comparative/superlative sine
srn (f)
stbla (m)
sil (f)
teach (m)
tuismitheoir (m), pl: tuismitheoir
uaine (f. noun and adj)
grey, grey-haired
son
mother
job
wealthy
story
old
nose
stable
eye
house
parent
green (as in garments etc.)
COMHR
Liam and Sle are looking at photographs from home:

Sle: Seo mo thuismitheoir. Is feirmeoir iad, agus is seo r dteach. Sin m athair, agus sin mo
mhthair, agus is sin mo dheirfir. Bheul, sin a lmh agus a cos!
Liam: An sin do dhearthir?
Sle: Is .
Liam: An mac linn fosta?
Sle: N hea. Is ceoltir .
Liam: Agus do dheirfir?
Sle: Is dochtir . Seo lena15 fear cile. Is fear deas . Agus seo a gclann: Samus agus Caitln
agus Cormac. Is Samus an duine is sine, agus is Cormac an leanbh.
Liam: Agus cad sin?
Sle: Sin an stbla. Agus seo r n-anmhaithe: b, agus caoirigh, agus seo Tiarnn, r madadh.
Liam: Is madadh lainn . C leis ? An leatsa ?
Sle: Is liom. Is mo mhadadh fin . Is bre liom Tiarnn.
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. Possessive Pronouns
mo
do
a
a
my
your (sg)
his
her
r
bhur
a
our
your (pl)
their
The possessive pronoun causes three distinct types of mutation to the noun it modifies:
15
lena < prep le `with' + 3sg f poss pron a `her'.
25
1.1 Simhi (Lenition)

The first and second singular and the third singular masculine possessive pronouns cause simhi:
mo theach
my house
do theach
your house
a theach
his house
1.2 Prefixing `h'
The third singular feminine possessive pronoun does not cause simhi, but will prefix h to a
noun beginning with a vowel (see Ceacht 2):
a teach
her house
a hinon
her daughter
1.3 Ur (Eclipsis)
The plural possessive pronouns all cause a mutation called ur èclipsis'.
Ur (Èclispsis')
Eclipsis (ur) affects essentially the same set of letters as
lenition (simhi), except that the letters `m' and `s' are not
affected. The term eclipsis refers to the sound of a letter being
èclipsed' by a prefixed letter. Phonologically, eclipsis covers
two mechanisms:
1) The voiced plosives `b' `d' `g', and all vowels, are nasalized
to the point of being eclipsed by nasals:
r mbean [m]
r ngasr [ng/n]
r ndochtir [n]
r n-athair [n]
2) The unvoiced plosives `p' `t' `c' and the fricative `f' are
voiced:
r bpeann [b]
r gceann [g]
r dteach [d]
r bhfuinneog [w/v]
Some examples;
mother
mo mhthair
do mhthair
a mhthair
a mthair
r mthair
bhur mthair
a mthair
father
m'athair
d'athair
a athair
a hathair
r n-athair
bhur n-athair
a n-athair
problem
m'fhadhb
d'fhadhb
a fhabhb
a fadhb
r bhfadhb
bhur bhfadhb
a bhfadhb
26
Note that the only distinction between the third person possessive pronouns `her' `his' `their' is
in their effect upon the following word:
a teach
her house
a theach
his house
a dteach
their house
1.4. Possessive Pronoun + fin
Fin after the possessive pronoun means òwn:'
mo theach fin
my own house
2. An Chopail (The Copula): Identification Sentences
So far we have looked at copula sentences that classify nouns (`classification sentences'):
Is mac linn
She is a student (she belongs to the class of persons called students)
In the classification sentence, the predicate directly follows the copula, and the pronoun is in
final position. The predicate in this type of sentence is always indefinite.
If we want to identify a thing or person, the structure is different: the copula is followed
by the pronoun, and the noun is definite (i.e. it is preceded by the article, a possessive pronoun,
or it is a personal name or place name).
2.1. The Emphatic Pronoun
The emphatic pronoun rather than the simple pronoun is commonly used:
Is eisean an minteoir.
He is the teacher.
An ise an rna? N h ach an lachtir.
Is she the secretary? No, the lecturer.
An tusa Sen?
Are you Sen?16
2.2. The Third Person Copula Sentence
The treatment of the third person (he, she, they) identification sentence offers further
complexity.
2.2.1. With the demonstrative pronoun sin /seo:
Is sin an minteoir.
An sin an minteoir?
Is seo an peann.
An seo an peann?
Is sin mathair.
An sin mathair?
2.2.2. Simple Structure: Seo an peannU
In the affirmative only, the following simple structure can be used, which dispenses with the
copula and pronoun:
16
But note if the emphasis is on the predicate rather than the subject pronoun, the simple rather than the emphatic
pronoun may be used: An t Sen? Àre you Sen?'
27
Sin an minteoir.
Seo an peann.
Sin m'athair.
That is the teacher.

This is the pen.
That's my father.
2.2.3. In the absence of an emphatic or demonstrative pronoun, an identification sentence in the

third person has an additional èchoing' pronoun:
Is an minteoir .
Is an lachtir .
Is iad mo thuismitheoir iad.
He is the teacher.
She is the lecturer.
They are my parents.
2.2.4. If the subject is a proper noun (e.g. a name), the syntax is different: instead of an èchoing'
pronoun at the end of the sentence, we have a `proleptic' pronoun at the beginning, i.e. a pronoun
that anticipates the proper noun:
Is Samus an minteoir.
Is Sle an lachtir.
Is iad ine agus Aoife mo dheirfiracha.
Samus is the teacher.

Sle is the lecturer.
ine and Aoife are my sisters.
2.3. The responsive always echoes the pronoun used in the question. The simple, non-emphatic
pronoun is used even if the emphatic is used in the question:
An tusa an rna?
An mise an lachtir?
An eisean an gada?
An Sle an minteoir?
An sibhse a tuismitheoir?
An muidinne na ceoltir?
An iadsan na mic linn?
Is m. / N m.
Is t. / N t.
Is . / N h.
Is . / N h.
Is muid. / N muid.
Is sibh. / N sibh.
Is iad. / N hiad.
Are you the secretary? Yes. / No.

Am I the lecturer? Yes. / No.
Is he the thief? Yes. / No.
Is Sle the teacher? Yes. / No.
Are you her parents? Yes. / No.
Are we the musicians? Yes. / No.
Are they the students? Yes. / No.
3. The Prefixed Adjectives sean- and drochDroch- `bad' and, when used attributively, sean òld' are prefixed to the noun they modify and
lenite it:
seanbhean
drochmhinteoir
drochscal
an old woman
a bad teacher
bad news
Since it ends in `n', sean does not lenite `d' `t' or `s' (see Ceacht 2, 2 `Dental Rule'):
seantbla
an old table.
28
4. Na Dathanna (Colours)
Colours can be used as nouns or adjectives. With the exception of uaine, all colours are masculine.
If used as nouns, they often take the definite article:
Is maith liom An Dearg is an Dubh le Stendhal.
I like Stendhal's Le rouge et le noir.
Na Dathanna (Colours)
bn
bndearg
bu
corcra
dearg
donn
white
pink
yellow
purple
red
brown
dubh
flannbhu
glas
gorm
liath
uaine
black
orange
green (natural)
blue
grey
green (fabrics et al.)
1. Translate the following phrases, and then write out the full paradigm for each:
1. my house (your house, his house, her house, our house, your house, their house)
2. their sister
3. our father
4. his horse
5. her foot
6. his eye
7. my ear
8. their parents
9. her name
10. our dog
1. My head; the head.
2. My eye; the eye.
3. My window; the window.
4. My nose; the nose.
5. My bread; the bread.
3.
a) Translate and simplify the following sentences, according to the model:
Is sin an minteoir.`That is the teacher.' > Sin an minteoir.
1. Is seo minon.
2. Is seo r dteach nua.
29
3. Is seo mo lmh.
4. Is sin a minteoir.
5. Is seo a mthair.
b) Now use the complex structure: Sin an dochtir. > Is sin an dochtir.
1. Seo mfhear cile.
2. Sin a hathair.
3. Sin an madadh maith cliste.
4. Seo an ceoltir cailiil.
5. Sin a theach.
4. Cluiche Cainte: C mise?
Each student is given an animal identity and has to impersonate that animal by gesture or sound;
the others have to guess.
Mac linn A (`Student A'): C mise?
An rang (`the class'): An tusa an bh?
Mac linn A: Is m / N m.
5. Change the following classification sentences to identification sentences, according to the
model:
An leabhar sin?-> An sin an leabhar?
1. An b seo?
2. An minteoir t?
3. An mac linn nua t?
4. Is an beag sin.
5. Is cara maith .
6. Is bean .
7. Is Meiricenach .
8. Is leabhar mr suimiil .
9. An ceoltir t?
10. Nach mthair mhaith sin?
6. Cluiche Cainte: Seo mo theaghlach `This is my family'
Pretend the other students are all members of your family whom you are introducing to someone.
Identify them each by name and state your relationship. If you like, you can also show off their
profession!
A bad story; an old woman; an old man; an old house; a bad house; a bad mother; grandfather
(literally òld father'); grandmother (literally òld mother'.
8. Incorporate a prefixed adjective into the following sentences:
is capall > is seanchapall
1. is muc
30
2. is cat
3. is peann
4. is cailc
5. is bean sin.
9. Add colour terms of your choice to the following sentences, and translate:
1. An peann sin?
2. Is maith liom cailc.
3. Is geansa .
4. Nach leabhar seo?
5. Is liomsa an capall.
Obair Bhaile
1. Write a paragraph on your colour preferences, and your preferred choice of colours in clothes.
Example: Is maith liom an dearg is an bu, agus is bre liom corcra chomh maith. N miste liom
an gorm ach is fuath liom an donn agus an dubh. N maith liom dathanna dorcha. Is maith liom
brste corcra agus geansa bndearg, agus is bre liom hata dearg leis!
2. Make up noun phrases (consisting of the definite article, noun, and adjective) for each of the
pictures below:
31

1. He is not my brother.
2. I am your mother.
3. Her father is the professor.
4. Do you remember her name? I do. She is an old friend of mine (liom; see #2,3.1).
5. He doesnt like his new job.
6. That man is their father.
7. Do you own this old dog? Yes. He is a smart dog.
8. Cit is not my sister; shes my mother!
9. They love the new house; I prefer the old house.
10. Their son is a doctor.
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Amhrn: Bean Phidn
Is an trua ghar nach mise, nach mise
Is an trua ghar nach mise bean Phidn.
Is an trua ghar nach mise, nach mise,
Is an bhean at aige bheith caillte.
It's a great pity that I'm not, I'm not

It's a great pity that I'm not Pidn's wife.
It's a great pity I'm not, I'm not
and that his wife isn't dead!
Go mbristear do chosa, do chosa

Go mbristear do chosa, a bhean Phidn
Go mbristear do chosa, do chosa
Go mbristear do chosa is do chnmha.
May
May
May
May
you break your legs, your legs,

you break your legs, wife of Pidn.
you break your legs, your legs,
you break your legs and your bones.
Seanfhocail
Is fearr rith maith n drochsheasamh.
A good run is better than a bad stand.
Drochubh, drochan.
You'll get a bad bird from a bad egg.

Rann
Na cait a bh ag Fionn Mac Cumhaill:

Seangchat, Seanchat
Ramharchat, Marbhchat
Schat, Dchat,
Liathchat, Fiachat
Piscn bliana agus meathlir.
These are the cats of Fionn Mac Cumhail:

Lean Cat, Old Cat
Fat Cat, Dead Cat
Fairy Cat, Evil Cat
Grey Cat, Wild Cat
Year-Old Kitten and Coward.
32
SIL SIAR (REVISION ): CEACHT 1 - CEACHT 3

Can you say the following things? If you can't, or you're not quite sure, go back to the lesson and
paragraph indicated after each item:
say Ì / you / he / she / we / you / they' (1.1)
say `this is a book' (1.2)
say ìt is a book' (1.3)
say ìt is a good book' (1.4)
say that you are a student, that Liam is a teacher, and that Nra is a good poet (1.3)
say who you are, know how to greet someone and ask them how they are; wish them good-bye
(1.5)
say `the woman / the window / the chalk / the bread' (2.1)
say `the good woman / the nice woman' (2.2)
say `with me / you / him / her / us / you / them' (2.3)
say Ì like / hate / love Irish' (2.3)
say `without a pen / a doubt' (2.4)
say `my / your / his / her / our / your / their house' (3.1)
say `Mire is the teacher'; Ìt is the pen' (3.2)
say àn old woman'; àn old house'; à bad man' (3.3)
say ìt is a red / green / blue / yellow / pink / orange / brown sweater' (3.4)
Revision Exercises
You should by now be able to translate the following sentences:
1. Is he a student? No, he is the teacher.
2. Is that your sister? Yes.
3. Is she a lecturer? Yes. She is a good lecturer.
4. Is that her name? It is a beautiful name.
5. That horse belongs to Mirn. Its a very strong horse.
6. Samus is my Irish teacher. He is a famous (cailiil) poet.
7. These are our parents. They are from Gleann Fhinne.
8. Its a little old house, but its her own house, and she loves it.
9. Is this my breakfast? I dont like it. It is bad food.
10. Are you the poet? No. I am a musician.
33
4
CEACHT A CEATHAIR
FOCLIR
a (before a person's name etc)
anseo
ansin
ar fad
ar chor ar bith
thas (m)
bhuel!
briste
brn (m)
bronntanas (m)
an ceann seo (m)
ciin
crochnaithe
cta (m)
dathil
deacair
doiligh
danta
deifir (f)
dom (f)
druidteU
eagla (f)
fada
fearg (f)
foscailteU
an Fhrainc (f)
fuar
glasta
gairid
go raibh maith agat
imn (f)
iontach
iontas (m)
nire (f)
nimhneach
ocras (m)
olc
Pras
vocative marker
here
there
altogether, very
at all
happiness
well!
broken
sorrow
present
this one
quiet
finished
coat
handsome, beautiful
difficult
difficult
done
hurry
disappointment
closed
fear
long
anger
open
France
cold
dressed
short
thank you
anxiety, worry
wonderful; as intensifier: veryU
surprise, wonder
shame
sore
hunger
bad
Paris
34
CEACHT A CEATHAIR / LESSON FOUR
posa (m)
ramhar
ssta
sona
spirbhean
tana
tart (m)
te
thall ansin
tinn
tinneas cinn (m)
tinneas fiacaile (m)
trua (f)
tuirse (f)
tuirseach
a piece
fat
content
happy
dream woman
thin
thirst
hot
over there
sick
headache
toothache
pity
fatigue, tiredness
tired
COMHR
Aisling is having something to eat in the student cafeteria. Sle joins her.
Sle: Cad mar at t, a Aisling?
Aisling: T m go maith. Agus t fin?
Sle: T m ceart go leor.
Aisling: Nl cuma mhaith ort ar chor ar bith. Cad at cearr leat?
Sle: T slaghdn orm, agus t m beagn tuirseach, ach nl m go dona. T tusa glasta go deas
inniu. Is maith liom an geansa at ort - t s go hlainn.
Aisling: Go raibh maith agat. Is bronntanas mo dheirfir . Is as Pras t s sa Fhrainc i mbliana.
Sle: Oh l l, trs chic. T s an-deas ar fad.
Aisling: An maith leat cste? T an ceann seo formhaith. Seo posa beag duit.
Sle: Sin posa mr go raibh maith agat. T ocras mr orm. Hmm. T s iontach blasta ceart go leor.
Aisling: Nach bhfuil?
Sle: A Aisling, c h an buachaill thall ansin? An sin an mac linn nua?
Aisling: Is .
Sle: Cainm at air?
Aisling: Sen at air. Is as Gaillimh .
Sle: T s an-dathil, nach bhfuil?
Aisling: Nl s go dona ar chor ar bith. Ach t brn orm - nl an t-dh ort. Seo a spirbhean thall
ansin. ine at uirthi.
Sle: Ah bhuel. Nach mr an trua sin.
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. The Substantive Verb and the Dependent Pronoun
As we have seen, the copula is used to classify (ìt is a house') or to identify the subject (ìt is the
35
house'). The substantive verb t, on the other hand, is used to describe the subject:
T an teach mr
The house is big.
1.1. T and the Dependent Pronoun

The set of pronouns used with t and any conjugated verb (hence `dependent pronouns') differs
slightly from the set we have learned so far, having s, s and siad in the third person singular and
plural instead of , and iad. The second person singular t is never lenited after a conjugated verb.
Note that the form of the verb is the same for all persons:17
t mU I am
t t you are
t s he is
t s she is
t muidU we are
t sibh you are
t siad they are
The relative form of t, which is used in many questions, is at:

Cad mar at t?
Cad at cearr leat?
How are you?

What's wrong with you?
1.2. The Dependent Forms of the Substantive Verb

The substantive verb has distinct forms used with the negative and interrogative forms of the verb.
These we call the dependent forms.
Negative:
Interrogative:
Neg. interrogative:
Where is:
Interrogative
an bhfuil m?U
an bhfuil t?
an bhfuil s?
an bhfuil s?
an bhfuil muid?U
an bhfuil sibh?
an bhfuil siad?
nl
an bhfuil?
nach bhfuil?
c bhfuil?
am I?
are you?
is he?
is she?
are we?
are you?
are they?
Negative
nl mU
nl t
nl s
nl s
nl muidU
nl sibh
nl siad
17
I am not
you are not
he is not
she is not
we are not
you are not
they are not
Ulster Irish uses very few synthetic verb forms, i.e. those combining pronoun and verb to form a single word.
Synthetic verb forms are much more common in Connacht and particularly in Munster Irish. In these dialects,
synthetic verb forms are used in the 1sg. and pl. of the present tense: tim Ì am'; timid `we are'; an bhfuilim àm
I'; an bhfuilimid àre we'; nlim Ì am not'; nlimid `we are not.' By contrast, in Ulster, the verbal system is
36
Nl m tuirseach.
An bhfuil an obair crochnaithe?
Nach bhfuil an fhuinneog briste?
C bhfuil mo leabhar?
I am not tired.
Is the work finished?
Isnt the window broken?
Where is my book?
1.3. The Predicative Adjective

Note that there is no mutation of the adjective in this context, whether it describes a masculine or
feminine noun. Here, the adjective is not part of the noun phrase, but functions as its predicate:
T an fear mr.
T an bhean mr.
The man is tall.

The woman is tall.
Compare the attributive adjective, where the adjective changes according to the gender and number
of the noun it describes (Ceacht 2):
an fear mr
an bhean mhr
the tall man

the tall woman.
2. The Preposition ar
2.1. The preposition ar lenites the following noun: ar Mhire, on Mary.
The preposition ar is used in many idiomatic expressions. Clothing and some other aspects of
someone's appearance, including physical and even intellectual features, are conceptualized as being
òn' a person:
T hata ar Mhire.
T cuma mhaith ar Shle.
T gruaig dhubh ar Shamus.
T ceann maith ar Aisling.
T an t-dh ar Shen.
Mire is wearing a hat.

Sle is looking well.
Samus has black hair.
Aisling is clever.
Sen is in luck.
AR òn'
regular
orm
ort
air
uirthi
orainn
oraibh
orthu
on me
on you
on him
on her
on us
on you
on them
analytic, i.e. verb and pronoun are not combined.
37
emphatic
ormsa
ortsa
airsean
uirthise
orainne
oraibhse
orthusan
The same construction is used to express a variety of feelings, states of being and physical
conditions, particularly of the unpleasant sort, such as diseases:
T ... orm: Idioms
T fearg orm.
T brn orm.
T eagla orm.
T imn orm.
T nire orm.
T deifir orm.
T thas orm.
T dom orm.
T tart orm.
T ocras orm.
T tuirse orm.
T tinneas cinn orm.
T slaghdn orm.
I am angry.
I am sorry/sad.
I am afraid.
I am worried/anxious.
I am ashamed.
I am in a hurry.
I am glad.
I am disappointed.
I am thirsty.
I am hungry.
I am tired.
I have a headache.
I have a cold.
If you want to say that you are very angry etc., you add mr after the noun:
T fearg mhr orm.
T brn mr orm.
I am very angry.
I am very sorry.
3. The Intensifying Prefixes an-, for-, r-, and iontach

The intensifiers an `very', for `truly, really' and r `too, excessively' are prefixed to adjectives (and
occasionally to nouns), leniting the word they modify (an- is always followed by a hyphen; for and
r only if homorganic letters need to be separated, e.g. for-rasunta; r-olc):
an-mhaith
formhaith
rfhuar
very good
truly good, really good
too cold
Occasionally they are also prefixed to a noun, particularly in the case of an:
T an-ocras orm.
T an-obair danta ansin.
I am very hungry.
Great work has been done there.
In Ulster Irish, the adjective iontach `wonderful' is often used before adjectives to mean `very'.
38
Structurally, however, it operates differently: although it precedes the adjective, it is not prefixed to
it and hence does not lenite it. It is also never prefixed to a noun:
T an lachtoir iontach maith.
The lecturer is very good.
4. The Particle go: T m go maith

The following common adjectives are usually preceded by the particle go when used predicatively;18
note that the particle go prefixes h to words beginning with a vowel (see `Prefixing h', Ceacht 3):
go hlainn (`beautiful')
go haoibhinn (`pleasant')
go bre (`lovely')
go dona (`bad')
go maith (`good')
go hiontach (`wonderful')
go deas (`nice')
go holc (àwful')
T m go maith.
T an aimsir go hlainn inniu.
I am well.
The weather is beautiful today.
Go is never used if the adjective is qualified by another adjective, as e.g. after prefixed intensifiers:
T s formhaith.
She is really good.
5. Conversational Idioms
5.1. Cad mar at t? `How are you?'
The question Cad mar at t? meaning `How are you?' may function as an introductory greeting
instead of Dia duit, Haile etc. Some possible responses include:
T m go maith. / Go maith.
T m go hiontach.
T m go bre.
Nl m go dona.
T m ceart go leor.
T m go dona.
I am well.
I am doing great.
I am fine.
I'm not doing badly.
I'm all right.
I am not well.
The following interchange might start any conversation:

Cad mar at t?
Go maith. Agus t fin?
T m go bre.
How are you?

Well. And you?
Im fine.
18
The use of the particle go is optional in this context in Donegal Irish; elsewhere in Ireland it is obligatory. This
use of go seems an (agrammatical) extension of the normal function of go, namely to turn an adjective into an
adverb: T s ag tiomint go dona `he drives badly.'
39
5.2. Cad at cearr leat? `What's wrong with you?'

If the response to Cad mar at t? is less than cheerful, you can follow up by asking:
Cad at cearr leat?
Cad at ort?

You might hear the following answer:

T m tinn.
T m tuirseach.
T tuirse orm.
T slaghdn orm.
T tinneas cinn orm.
T tinneas fiacaile orm.
I am sick.
I am tired.
I feel fatigued / tired.
I have a cold.
I have a headache.
I have a toothache.
You can use the same construction for other illnesses, e.g. fiabhras (`fever'), ailse (`cancer'), an fli
(`the 'flu'), and tinneas goile (`stomach ache').
5.3. Cainm at ort? `What's your name?'
The normal way of asking someone to identify themselves is to ask what a person's name is
(literally, what name is òn' them): Cainm at ort? or Cad an t-ainm at ort? It is less abrupt than
asking C tusa? `Who are you?' In response, one can say, for example:
Sen at orm.
My name is Sen.
Or simply:
Mise Sen.
I am Sen.
5.4. Cad an chuma at air? `What does he look like?'

If you want someone to describe a person to you, you ask
Cad an chuma at air/uirthi?
What does he/she look like?
You use the same idiom if you want to say that someone is or isn't looking well:
T cuma mhaith uirthi.
Nl cuma rmhaith air.
T cuma bhrnach orthu.
She is looking well.

He isn't looking too well.
They look sad.
40
1. Practice the difference between the attributive and predicative adjective by translating the
following pairs of sentences:
1. The window is big. The big window is open.
2. The woman is quiet. The quiet woman is here.
3. Is the pig smart? Is the smart pig sick?
4. Is the work difficult? Is the difficult work finished?
5. The night is long. The long night is quiet.
2. Practice the forms of the prepositional pronoun ar by expressing the sentences in the idiom box
in 2.2 in all persons. Then, practice the forms of the substantive verb by converting the sentences
into questions, negative statements, and negative questions.
3. Chaindrill
Translate into Irish, making the necessary substitutions (the first phrases are done for you):
I am happy - she - disappointed - very sorry - they - thirsty - hungry - he - very happy - tired - I very angry - have a headache. (T thas orm - t thas uirthi - t doma uirthi...)
4. Intensify the following adjectives, according to the model: Maith > an-mhaith (n iontach maith)
> formhaith > rmhaith
1. fuar
2. te
3. lidir
4. ciin
5. blasta
5. Obair Bheirte: Cad mar at t?
Pair up with another student. Pretend you're meeting in the street, and talk about how terribly ill
you both feel. Then have another round, but this time you both feel fabulous. If you like, the
weather may reflect your current mood.
6. Cluiche Cainte: C h / h?
Describe one of the students in your class; your classmates must guess who it is you are describing.
Tusa: T s ard tana agus t s an-chiin. T geansa gorm uirthi, agus brste dubh. T gruaig rua
uirthi. T s an-chairdiil.
An rang: An sin Mire? / Is Mire .
Tusa: Is / N h.
Obair Bhaile
1. Samus has a headache today; he has a cold and is very tired.
41
2. She looks tired; is she all right?

3. Its very cold. Is the door open?
4. Is the big window broken?
5. Their father is very sick; he has cancer.
6. Hes wearing a black coat and a red hat.
7. Isnt the brown bread very tasty?
8. That interesting work is finished.
9. Arent they ashamed?
10. Are you (pl) in a hurry? No, but were very tired.
2. Write a blurb about your spirbhean / spirfhear, the woman or man of your dreams. Strict
adherence to the truth is not necessary in this exercise.
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Amhrn: Tir Abhaile 'Ri
1. Tir abhaile 'ri, tir abhaile 'ri
Tir abhaile 'ri, a Mhary,
Tir abhaile 'ri, is fan sa bhaile
Mar t do mhargadh danta.
1. Go home, go home
Go home, Mary,
Go home and stay home
Because your match is made.
Curf:
Nl mo mhargadh, t do mhargadh
Nl mo mhargadh danta
T do mhargadh, nl mo mhargadh,
T do mhargadh danta.
Refrain:
My match is NOT made Yes it is
My match is NOT made.
Your match is made No it isn't
Your match is made.
2. Is cuma c dhein n nach dhein

Is cuma c dhein , a Mhary
Is cuma c dhein n nach dhein
Mar t do mhargadh danta.
2. It doesn't matter who made it or who didn't

It doesn'n matter who made it, Mary
It doesn't matter who made it or who didn't
For your match is made.
3. Ps an pobaire, ps an pobaire
Ps an pobaire, a Mhary
Ps an pobaire i dts na hiche
Agus beidh s agat ar maidin.
3. Marry the piper, marry the piper

Marry the piper, Mary
Marry the piper in the evening
and he'll be with you in the morning.
42
Tomhas (`Riddle')
Nl s amuigh ort
Nl s istigh ort,
T s ort
Is n trom .
(CC #445)
It's not on your outside

It's not inside you
It's on you
And it's no weight to you.
Dh Rann (`Two Rhymes')

T capall is cairt ag Sen hAirt;
T b agus lao ag Sen S;
T peata uain ag Sen Cluain;
Is sin an fth nach bhfuil orthu buairt.
(RR 17)
Sen hAirt has a horse and cart;

Sen S has a cow and a calf;
Sen Cluain has a pet sheep;
And that's why they're so happy.
T an Deisceart go hlainn
T an Tuaisceart go bre
T an t-Oirthear go simh
Is t an tIarthar thar barr.
(CC #285)
The South is beautiful

The North is fine
The East is pleasant
And the West is the best.
43
5
CEACHT A CIG
FOCLIR
ag amharc (ar)
ag amharc ar an teilifs
ag caint (le)
ag canadh
ag ccaireacht
ag cur bist
ag cur sneachta
ag damhsa
ag danamh
ag dul
ag isteacht (le)
ag ir
ag fanacht (le)
ag foghlaim
ag gire
ag ithe
ag labhairt (le)
ag lamh
ag obair
ag l
ag rince
ag rith
ag scrobh
ag sil
ag snmh
ag soilsi
ag teacht
anois
ars
bite
Barla (m)
Breatnais (f)
Briotinis (f)
buochas le Dia!
codladh (m)
cna (m)
diseacht (f)
duit
looking, watching
watching TV
talking
singing
cooking
raining
snowing
dancing
doing
going
listening (to)
rising, getting up, becoming
waiting (for); staying
learning
laughing
eating
speaking
reading
working
drinking
dancing
running
writing
walking
swimming
shining
coming
now
again
drowned
English
Welsh
Breton
thank God!
sleep
dwelling, living place
waking state
to you (sg)
44
CEACHT A CIG / LESSON FIVE
Eilvis, an (f)
fios (m)
fliuch
Fraincis (f)
Gaeilge na hAlban (f)
gealach (f)
Gearminis (f)
go fill
grian (f)
grianmhar
inniu
Iodilis (f)
lu (m; also: ag lu)
scamallach
seasamh (m; also: ag seasamh)
Snis (f)
Spinnis (f)
su (m; also: ag su)
tirim
tost (m)
Switzerland
knowledge
wet
French
Scots Gaelic
moon
German
yet
sun
sunny
today
Italian
lying, reclining
cloudy
standing
Chinese
Spanish
sitting
dry
silence
COMHR
Sle has a piece of gossip for Aisling about their friend Pdraign.
Sle: A Aisling, t scal agam duit. T buachaill ag Pdraign!
Aisling: An bhfuil anois? An bhfuil s deas? Cad an chuma at air?
Sle: T s an-dathil. T s ard tana. T sile gorma aige agus t gruaig dhubh air. T s anchliste fosta.
Aisling: C as ?
Sle: Is as an Eilvis , agus t Fraincis agus Gearminis lofa aige.
Aisling: An bhfuil Gaeilge aige go fill?
Sle: Nl mrn, ach t s ag foghlaim.
Aisling: Cainm at air?
Sle: Henri at air.
Aisling: An bhfuil a fhios agat c bhfuil s ag fanacht?
Sle: T s ina chna i mBaile tha Cliath. T s ag stidar ag an ollscoil.
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. The Preposition ag àt, by'
The preposition ag àt, by' does not cause any mutation to the following noun:
45
ag Mire
at/by Mire.
1.1. The Present Progressive Tense

The present progressive (Ì am working') is formed by combining the substantive verb t with the
preposition ag and the verbal noun (the verbal noun is a non-inflected form comparable to the
English gerund):
T Aisling ag caint.
Cad at Toms ag r?
Nl an madadh ag ithe.
An bhfuil t ag staidar?
Nach bhfuil t ag l?
Aisling is talking.
What is Toms saying?
The dog isn't eating.
Are you studying?
Aren't you drinking?
1.2. The Prepositional Pronoun
AG àt, by'
regular
agam
agat
aige
aici
againn
agaibh
acu
at me
at you
at him
at her
at us
at you
at them
emphatic
agamsa
agatsa
aigesean
aicise
againne
agaibhse
acusan
1.3. Possessions: How to Express Capitalist Notions

There is no verb `to have' in Irish. Two constructions serve to express the notion of possession.
One we know already:
Is liomsa an peann.
The pen is mine.
The more usual (ùnmarked') way to express possession uses the preposition ag:
T airgead agam.
An bhfuil gluaisten agat?
I have money.
Do you have a car?
The Irish for `thank you' is really a blessing, `May there be good at you'; it is often used with a
numeric hyperbole:
Go raibh cad / mle maith agat!
A hundred / thousand thanks!
46
The negative nl, combined with ach `but', expresses the notion ònly':
Nl ach leabhar amhin agam.
I have only one book.
1.4. Possession of Knowledge / Abilities
The same idiom t ... agam is also used to express possession of knowledge including
knowledge of a language and ability:
Nl a fhios agam c as .
An bhfuil Gaeilge agat?
Nl Fraincis ar bith ag Sen.
An bhfuil tiomint aige?
T ceol aici.
I dont know where he is from.

Do you speak Irish?
Sen doesnt speak any French.
Can he drive?
She can sing.
2. The Preposition i and the Use of ann

Like other prepositions, i ìn' has a full conjugated paradigm (see Ceacht 7), but for now we are
only concerned with the third person singular ann. Although formally masculine, it is best
thought of as a neuter, impersonal ìn it', which may in some contexts be translated as `there', in
others not translated at all:
An bhfuil mrn daoine ann?
Nl duine ar bith ann.
T l deas ann.
Nl ann ach bisteach.
Are there many people?

There's no one there.
It's a nice day.
It's only a shower.
3. Stative Expressions I
With a limited set of expressions (seven in all), the preposition i is used in combination with the
possessive pronoun to express states of being. Note that the possessive pronoun mutates the
following verbal noun:
T s ina su.
She is sitting (`She is in her sitting').
T m i mo chna anseo.
T t i do shu.
T s ina thost.
T s ina codladh.
T muid inr seasamh.
T sibh in bhur ndiseacht.
T siad ina lu.
I live here.
You are up (sitting).
He is silent.
She is sleeping.
We are standing.
You are awake.
They are in bed (lying down).
4. An Aimsir (The Weather)

The weather is an inexhaustible source of conversation in Ireland; as the proverb has it, is maith
47
an scala an aimsir `the weather is a good conversationalist'. When meeting someone in the
street, Irish speakers frequently pass a comment on the weather as well as, or indeed instead of, a
formal greeting:
`T l bre ann inniu.'
`T cinnte, buochas le Dia.'
`Nice day today.'

Ìt is indeed, thank God.'
Essential weather expressions:

T l deas ann inniu
T drochl ann
T an aimsir ...
go maith
go hlainn / go bre
go haoibhinn / go deas
go dona / go holc
T s te / fuar
T s fliuch / tirim
T s grianmhar / scamallach
T s ag cur bist / T s ag cur
T m fliuch bite
T s ag cur sneachta
T an ghrian ag soilsi.
It's a nice day today

It's a bad day
The weather is ...
good
beautiful / fine
pleasant / nice
bad / ditto
It is hot / cold
It is wet / dry
It is sunny / cloudy
It is raining
I am drenched
It is snowing
The sun is shining.
5. An Foirfe (The Perfect Tense)

The perfect tense in Irish is a composite tense, made up of the substantive verb t and a past
participle of the verb. The past participle is often used simply as an adjective, both predicatively
(t an fhuinneog briste) and attributively (an fhuinneog bhriste). But the past participle always
implies a past activity: the window is now broken because someone broke it in the past. The
agent of the activity is indicated by the pronoun ag:
T an obair danta agam.
An bhfuil do dhinnar ite agat?
T a hata caillte ag Sen.
An bhfuil an litir lite agat? Nl go fill.
I have finished the work.

Have you eaten your dinner?
Sen has lost his hat.
Have you read the letter? Not yet.
The past participle is generally formed by adding -te / -the to a slender stem and -ta / -tha to a
broad stem. There are rules governing which particular form of ending a verb will take, but it may
be easiest just to learn the most common participles:
bite
briste
caillte
drowned, drenched
broken
lost
48
caite
crochnaithe
curtha
danta
dite
druidteU
glanta
ite
lite
millte
nite
lta
scrofa
stricthe
spent, consumed, worn out

finished
put
done, made
burned
closed
cleaned
eaten
read
spoilt
washed
drunk
written
torn
1. Samus is running.
2. The teacher is laughing.
3. Are you (pl) going home?
4. He is not eating.
5. We are not listening to you (sg).
1. She has a book.
2. We have a cat.
3. Do you (pl) have money?
4. They dont have a house.
5. Does he have a car?
6. Can you (sg) sing? (literally: Do you have music?)
7. I speak French. (literally: I have French.)
8. I cant drive. (literally: I dont have driving.)
9. Do you have time?
10. I dont know.
3. Cluiche Cainte: C h an gada?
Àn bhfuil a fhios agat c h an gada?' Everyone has 5 minutes to describe one person in class to
the bleachtaire, the detective.
49

1. It's a good day.
2. There are people there.
3. It's only wine.
4. There is a book there now.
5. It's a bad day.
1. The little child is asleep.
2. We live in Dublin.
3. They are not awake.
4. Are you (pl) up (i.e. standing)?
5. Their father is silent.
6. She is sitting.
7. He lives in Ireland now.
8. Mirn is still in bed (i.e lying).
9. Is she still asleep?
10. We are lying down (i.e. in bed).
6. Chain Drill
T m i mo sheasamh - s - muid - codladh - tusa - sibhse - tost - Sen - su - a bhean chile - m sise.
7. Cluiche: T m i mo chodladh...
Students adopt stative positions; the teacher asks questions about their own, or other students'
position, which students must answer truthfully.
8. Cuir Gaeilge air;
1. Have you (sg) finished the homework? Yes.
2. Has he broken the window again?
3. I havent eaten my dinner yet.
4. They have drunk the coffee.
5. She has read the book.
Obair Bhaile
1. Do you speak Irish? Yes.
2. She speaks good German.
3. I have a sister.
4. Do you (pl) have a car? No.
5. Do they have time? No; theyre in a hurry.
6. Are you (pl) working?
50
7. The sun is shining.

8. They are not coming with us.
9. That red-haired woman is looking at (on) us.
2. Cad mar at an aimsir inniu? Write a paragraph about the weather today. How does it
compare to the kind of weather you like?
51
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Seanfhocail (`Proverbs')
Is binn bal ina thost.
A silent mouth is sweet.
Is maith an scala an aimsir.
The weather is a good conversationalist.

Casfhocal (`Tongue Twister')
T sicn ina seasamh sa sneachta l seaca.

day.
A chicken is sitting in the snow one frosty
Amhrn: T M i Mo Shu
T m i mo shu d'irigh an ghealach arir
Ag cur tine sos gan scth, is fad go gar;
T bunadh an t ina lu is t mise liom fin;
T na coiligh ag glaoch is an saol ina gcodladh
ach m.
I am up since the moon rose last night

Lighting a fire and setting it ablaze
The household is asleep and I am alone;
The cocks are crowing and everyone's asleep
but me.
Amhrn: Nl S ina L (I)

N s ina l, nl, a ghr
Nl s ina l, is n bheidh go maidin
Nl s ina l, is n bheidh go fll
Solas ard at sa ghealaigh.
It's not day yet, love

It's not day yet and won't be till morning
It's not day yet, love
The moon is shining brightly.
52
6
CEACHT A S
FOCLIR
'achanU (<gach aon)
ag ceannach
ag cluinstin
ag dol
ag fil
ag feiceil
ag glanadh
ag r
ag siopadireacht
ag staidar
ag tabhairt
aithne (f)
amharclann (f)
amrach
an tseachtain seo caite/a chuaigh thart
anocht
anuraidh
arir; ar arir
ar fad
bialann (f)
cad chuige?U
caife (m)
cathair (f)
ceantar (m)
cisir (f)
crsa (pl of crsa `course')
cuid mhr
dubh dite
duine (m)
earrach (m)
eolas (m)
faoin tuath
farraige (f)
fmhar (m)
geimhreadh (m)
gr (m)
inn
le chile
every
buying
hearing
selling
getting
seeing
cleaning
saying
shopping
studying
giving
acquaintance, knowledge of person
theatre
tomorrow
last week
tonight
last year
last night; the night before last
complete(ly), entire(ly)
restaurant
why?
caf / coffee
city
area
party
matters, things
a lot, much
sick and tired
person
spring
knowledge (of a place)
in the country side
sea
fall
winter
love
yesterday
together
53
CEACHT A S / LESSON SIX
leaba (f)
lacht (f)
leabharlann (f)
leadrnach
meas (m)
oifig (f)
ollmhargadh (m)
pacilte
pictirlann (f)
pldaithe
samhradh (m)
sasr (m)
siopa (m)
suimiil
teach tbhairne
bed
lecture
library
boring
respect
office
supermarket
packed
cinema
crowded
summer
season
shop
interesting
pub
COMHR
Liam and Aisling meet in front of the library.

Aisling: Maidin mhaith, a Liam. Cad mar at crsa?
Liam: Nl siad go dona. Cad chuige nach raibh t ag an chisir arir?
Aisling: Bh m ag obair sa bhialann. An raibh cuid mhr daoine ann?
Liam: Bh. Bh an it pacilte pldaithe. Bh ceol maith ann, agus bh 'achan duine ag damhsa.
Aisling: An raibh Henri agus Pdraign ann?
Liam: Bh! Bh siad ag damhsa le chile an oche ar fad.
Aisling: Nach bre an rud an gr! Cad chuige nach raibh t sa rang inniu?
Liam: Bh m rthuirseach! Agus t m dubh dite leis an chrsa sin. An tseachtain seo caite bh
m i mo chodladh sa lacht bh s chomh leadrnach sin. Cad mar a bh s inniu?
Aisling: N raibh s chomh dona sin. Bh s ceart go leor.
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. The Past Tense of the Substantive Verb
In the past tense, t becomes bh, nl becomes n raibh:
bh m
bh t
bh s
bh s
bh muid
bh sibh
bh siad
I was
you were
he was
she was
we were
you were
they were
n raibh m
n raibh t
n raibh s
n raibh s
n raibh muid
n raibh sibh
n raibh siad
54
I wasn't
you weren't
he wasn't
she wasn't
we weren't
you weren't
they weren't
The dependent form is raibh:

Negative:
Interrogative:
Neg. interrogative:
Where was?
n raibh.
an raibh?
nach raibh?
c raibh?
2. An Tuiseal Tabharthach (The Dative or Prepositional Case)

2.1. An tAinmfhocal (Nouns)
In Modern Irish, the noun in the dative case generally has the same form as in the nominative.
Only a handful of nouns have a separate dative form; these include the word Ireland, and the
words for `hand' and `foot':
ire
cos
lmh
Ireland
foot
hand/arm
BUT
in irinn
cos ar chois
lmh ar limh
in Ireland
step by step
hand in hand
Distinct dative forms are common in literature, and also survive in certain idioms, such as sa l
`during the day' (from l `day') and petrified expressions.
Except in such expressions as um Nollag àt Christmas time' (from am `time'), cois
farraige / cois tine `by the seaside / by the fireside' (from cos `foot'), and in D Luain, D Mirt
etc òn Monday, on Tuesday', nouns in the dative case are preceded by a preposition, and it is
therefore also referred to as the `Prepositional Case.'
2.2 An Ramhfhocal (Prepositions)
Prepositions ending in a consonant generally cause no mutation to the following noun:
ag `by, at'
ag bean
as òut, from'
as teach
The preposition ar, and most prepositions ending in a vowel, cause simhi:
do `to, for'
do bhean
de `from, off, of'
d'fhar
ar òn'
ar theach
faoi ùnder'
faoi thbla
`from'
theach
The prepositions i ìn' and le `with' are exceptional. I causes ur and becomes in before vowels.
Le does not lenite indefinite nouns, but prefixes h to words beginning with a vowel:
i ìn'
le `with'
i mBostn; in it
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2.3. Preposition and the Singular Definite Article

The initial consonants of nouns after a preposition plus article takes a simhi:U
T Gaeilge mhaith ag an chailn sin.
T tinneas cinn ar an mhinteoir.
That girl has good Irish.

The teacher has a headache.
Some prepositions ending in a vowel combine with the article:

+ an > n
do + an > don
de + an > den
faoi + an > faoin
The preposition i becomes sa (san before vowels and `fh'+ vowel) when joined to the article:
i + an > sa
Ta bia sa chuisneoir.
Theres food in the refrigerator.
The preposition le becomes leis before the article:
le + an > leis an
Is maith leis an bhuachaill ceol.
The boy likes music.
Nouns beginning with a `d' `t' or `s' are never lenited after the definite article (`Dental Rule',
Ceacht 2):
ag an doras
at the door
n teach
from the house
2.4. Prepositions and the Plural Definite Article
If a preposition is followed by the plural definite na, there is no mutation of the following noun:
do na buachaill
for the boys
do + na > do na
de + na > de na
le + na > leis na
ag + na > ag na
ar + na > ar na
i + na > sna
3. Sa Teach (In the House)

teach (m), sa teach
arasn (m), san arasn
seomra (m), sa seomra
urlr (m), ar an urlr
leaba (f), sa leaba
an chistin (f), sa chistin
an seomra su /suite
an seomra codlata /leapa
house
flat (B&I) / apartment (US)
room
floor
bed
the kitchen
the sitting room
the bedroom
56
an seomra folctha
an leithreas (m), sa leithreas
an halla (m), sa halla
an staighre (m), ar an staighre
an gairdn (m), sa ghairdn
the bathroom
the toilet
the hall
the stairs
the garden
4. Idioms Using Two Prepositions

Certain idiomatic constructions use more than one preposition:
T gr aici ar an chailn sin.
She is fond of that girl.
Nl meas acu ar an mhinteoir.
They have no respect for the teacher.
Three Kinds of Knowledge

Irish distinguishes between three kinds of knowledge: knowledge of a fact (fios), of a
person (aithne), and of a place (eolas). Note the use of the preposition ar with
aithne and eolas but not with fios:
T a fhios agam sin.
T aithne agam ar Chaitln.
T eolas agam ar an chathair.
I know that (fact).

I know Caitln.
I know the city.
1. Translate the following sentences; then put them into the past tense:
1. Isnt the weather beautiful? Yes.
2. Are you hungry? No, but Im thirsty.
3. They have a big house.
4. The little boy is sick, and his mother is worried (buartha).
5. We are happy. Are you (pl) happy?
6. That tall man is not listening to us.
7. I know that woman.
8. Is Samus waiting for you (sg)?
9. That book is very interesting.
10. Are you (sg) asleep? No.
2. Obair Bheirte: C raibh t arir?
Pair up with another student and ask each other where you were yesterday (last night, last
weekend), and what you were doing. Here are some possible responses:
57
sa bhaile
sa bhialann
sa teach tbhairne
sa leabharlann
sa chaife
sa phictirlann
san amharclann
sa leaba
ar scoil
ar an tr
faoin tuath
at home
in the restaurant
in the pub
in the library
in the caf
at the cinema
in the theatre
in bed
at school
on the beach
in the countryside

a)
1. at a door
2. on a chair
3. from a teacher
4. to a woman
5. out of a house
6. in a house
7. out of a town
8. in a tree
9. with a man
10. under a table.
b)
1. at the woman
2. on the tree
3. on the door
4. with the teacher
5. at the girl
6. at the house
7. at the window
8. at the door
9. on the chair
10. on the table.
c)
1. on the teachers
2. at the girls
3. with the boys
4. to the teachers
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5. from the students

4. Cluiche: C bhfuil s?
One person is blindfolded; an object is `hidden' and the person has to ask questions to ascertain
where it is. The others may help by saying T sin te / fuar `you're hot / cold'.
5. Cluiche Cainte: An Dnmhar (`The Murder')
The detective (an bleachtaire) has to find out who committed the murder by interviewing all
participants about their alibi. Students pick slips with their identity and alibi; one (the
`murderer') has been given a false alibi:
bleachtaire: C tusa? (`Who are you?')
tusa: ....
bleachtaire: C raibh t nuair a tharla an dnmhar? (`Where were you when the murder
happened?')
tusa: ....
bleachtaire: Cad a bh t ag danamh? (`What were you doing?')
1. She knows him.
2. He knows her.
3. I don't know Paris.
4. Sen is fond of her.
5. She has no respect for him.
7. Read the poem `Fear an Phoist' in Teanga is Cultr and answer the following questions:
1. C at sa bhaile?
2. C bhfuil Mama?
3. C bhfuil an teilifs?
4. C bhfuil fear an phoist?
5. C bhfuil Mama agus fear an phoist ag dul anois?
6. C bhfuil a mbrga?
7. C bhfuil Dada?
8. C bhfuil Mama anois? Agus fear an phoist?
Obair Bhaile
1. Draw a floorplan of your apartment, labelling the rooms. Try to furnish the apartment.
1. We were shopping in the city last week.
2. They were in Italy in the summer.
3. Were you at the party last night? Yes.
4. Was the teacher angry? No.
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5. Why wasn't she swimming yesterday? Did she have a cold?

6. Sen was studying in the library yesterday.
7. What were you doing yesterday?
8. We are from Germany, we lived in France last year, and we live in Dublin now.
9. Do you know Sen? Yes.
10. The student had respect for the lecturer.
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Amhrn: Nra Bheag (II)
À Nra bheag, c raibh t arir?'
Is dirt mo Mhama liomsa
Ì gcl an t ag tobar an uisce
Ag foghlaim coiscim damhsa.'
`Little Nra where were you last night?'

My mother asked me.
Àt the back of the house, by the well
Learning a new dance step.'
Curf:
Agus iomba Nra Nra Nra
Agus iomba is t mo ghr geal,
Gus iomba Nra is t mo stirn
T mise dnta i ngr leat.
Refrain:
And iomba Nra Nra Nra
And iomba you are my fair love
And iomba Nra you are my darling
I'm locked in love with you.
Is maith le Nra pis agus pnaire

Is maith le Nra brandy
Is maith le Nra prta rsta
Is itheann Nra an t-im leo.
Nra likes peas and beans

Nra likes brandy
Nra likes roast potatoes
And she eats butter with them.
À Nra bheag, c raibh t arir?'

`Bh m i gcl an gharra.'
`C bh agat fin ansin?'
Àn pobaire beag is a mhla.'
`Little Nra where were you last night?'

Ì was at the back of the garden'
`Who was there with you?'
`The little piper and his pipes.'
Casfhocail `Tongue Twisters'

Bh nire ar Mhire
mar bh s ag gire
ag faire i nDoire.
Mire was ashamed

because she was laughing
at a wake in Derry.
Bh banjo ag Joe
agus bh banjo ag bean Joe.
B'fhearr Joe ar an bhanjo
N bean Joe ar an bhanjo go deo.
Joe had a banjo

and Joe's wife had a banjo too.
Joe played far better on the banjo
than Joe's wife ever did.
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Fear an Phoist
Tadhg Mac Dhonnagin19
T Mama sa chistin, t Mama sa chistin
T Mama ag danamh an dinnir
Nl Daid sa bhaile
Nl Daid sa bhaile
T Mama sa chistin li fein.
T Mama sa seomra suite,
T Mama sa seomra suite
T Mama ag fachaint ar an teilifs
T duine igin ag an doras
Cnag cnag cnag a haon a d a tr.
Anois t Mama sa halla,
Anois t Mama sa halla,
Osclaonn s an doras go mall
T fear an phoist ag an doras
Fear an phoist ag an doras
`Filte' arsa Mama `tar isteach.'
T Mama sa seomra leapan
T Mama sa seomra leapan
T fear an phoist ann chomh maith
Brg brg eile a haon a d
Brg brg eile a haon a d
Ag titim ar an urlr.
T Daid ar an staighre
T fear an phoist sa chfra
T Mama istigh faoin leaba
Ag isteacht
Beidh bisteach ann amrach
Bisteach ann amrach
Arsa an fear ar an teilifs
Sa seomra suite.
fear an phoist `the postman'; ag danamh an dinnir `making dinner' (dinnir = genitive case of
dinnar); li fin `by herself'; duine igin `someone'; cnag `knock'; osclaonn s `she opens'; go
mall `slowly'; filte `welcome'; arsa `says, said'; tar isteach `come in'; ag titim `falling'; cfra `hot
press' (i.e. closet); beidh future tense of t; bisteach `rain shower.'
19
From Tadhg Mac Donnagin's CD Imonn an tAm (2004); for lyrics and translation see www.futafata.com.
61
7
CEACHT A SEACHT
FOCLIR
ag cur
ag fgil
ag imeacht
ag sil
ag sil go mr le
ag taisteal
aintn (f)
aisteoir (m)
amrach
an bhliain seo chugainn
an mh seo chugainn
bainisteoir (m)
an tseachtain seo chugainn
anocht
ar ball
ar dts
ars
banaltra (f)
bandraoi (f)
blth (m)
buartha
carraig (f)
canna
ccaire (m)
crann (m)
dochtir (m)
duine fsta (m), pl daoine fsta
far (m)
freastla (m)
gaineamh (m)
gan mhoill
geal
gnthach
go dt
go luath
grianmhar
in aice le
ina dhiadh sin
putting
leaving something behind
leaving i.e. going away
hoping
looking forward to
travelling
aunt
actor
tomorrow
next year
next month
manager
next week
tonight
soon
first
again
nurse
witch
flower
worried
rock
same
cook
tree
doctor
adult, grown-up
grass
attendant, waiter
sand
soon
bright
busy
to (place)
early
sunny
near
after that
62
litir (f)
nos dana / nos moille
oche Shathairn
rna (m)
saor
scrbhneoir (m)
sl bheatha
sliabh (m)
spir (f)
tiomna (m)
toigh (old dative of teach, also spelt tigh)
tr (f)
letter
later
Saturday night
secretary
free
writer
profession
mountain, hill
sky
driver
in the house of; . French chez
beach
Oche Shamhna
Oche Shamhna (f)
bairn breac (m)
bandraoi (f)
bragada
cn (m), pl cnnna
cluiche (m)
cluiche na bhfochupn
culaith (f)
picn (m)
na soga; na daoine maithe/beaga/uaisle
taibhse (m), pl taibhs
ll (m), pl lla
Halloween
barmbrack (fruit loaf)
witch
fancy dress, costume
nut, nuts
game
saucer game
dress, outfit
blindfold
the fairies
ghost
apple
COMHR
Liam and Aisling discuss plans for Halloween and for next summer; Liam is studying a job offer
in Holland.
Liam: An mbeidh sibh ag dul amach oche Shathairn?
Aisling: Beidh cinnte. Beidh cisir Oche Shamhna toigh Henri. T m ag sil go mr leis. Beidh
'achan duine glasta suas.
Liam: An mbeidh t ag cur bragada ort fin?
Aisling: Beidh. Beidh m i mo bhandraoi. T culaith dheas agam. An mbeidh sibhse ag dul it ar
bith?
Liam: Beidh muid ag dul go dt an teach tbhairne ar dts. Nl m cinnte c mbeidh muid ag dul ina
dhiaidh sin. Beidh m ag dul a chodladh go luath; beidh m ag obair sa bhialann ars D
Domhnaigh.
Aisling: Cad an litir seo, a Liam?
Liam: Seo litir as an siltr. Beidh m ag obair in Amsterdam i mbliana.
Aisling: Cad a bheidh t ag danamh?
Liam: Beidh m i mo mhinteoir ar chrsa do dhaoine at ag foghlaim Barla.
63
CEACHT A SEACHT / LESSON SEVEN
Aisling: An mbeidh t ag taisteal?

Liam: Beidh. Beidh m fin agus cpla cara ag taisteal san Eoraip ina dhiaidh sin.
Aisling: C mbeidh sibh ag dul?
Liam: Beidh muid ag fanacht sa Fhrainc cpla seachtain, agus beidh seachtain san Iodil againn,
seachtain eile sa Spinn, agus cpla l san Eilvis ina dhiaidh sin.
Cad a bheidh tusa ag danamh sa samhradh? An mbeidh t ag fanacht anseo?
Aisling: N bheidh. Beidh m ag dul go Tr Chonaill. Beidh m ag fanacht ag teach m'aintn. T s
ina cna cois farraige. Beidh m i mo lu ar an tr, ag lamh agus ag isteacht leis an fharraige!
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. The Future Tense of the Substantive Verb
T becomes beidh in the future tense:
Beidh m ann amrach.
I'll be there tomorrow.
The Substantive Verb: Future Tense

beidh m
beidh t
beidh s
beidh s
Negative:
Neg. interrogative:
I will be
you will be
he will be
she will be
n bheidh
nach mbeidh?
beidh muid
beidh sibh
beidh siad
we will be
you will be
they will be
Interrogative:
Where:
an mbeidh?
c mbeidh?
2. Stative Expressions II: Occupations

The stative construction (t m i mo ...) also functions as a way of expressing one's current
occupation:
T s ina mhinteoir.
He is a teacher.
In contradistinction to the copula, this stative construction is primarily used for achievable
states, rather than, e.g., inalienable characteristics:
T s ina mhinteoir anois.
Is ceoltir maith .
He is a teacher now.
He is a good musician.
3. The Preposition i ìn' and the construction Minteoir at ionam

We have already encountered the 3rd sg prepositional pronoun of i, ann ìn it'. Here is the
complete paradigm:
64
i ìn'
ionam
ionat
ann
inti
in me
in you
in him
in her
ionainn
ionaibh
iontu
in us
in you
in them
This prepositional paradigm is used in the context of one particular construction, which in
Donegal tends to be used instead of the regular copula classification sentence:
Peann at ann
It's a pen.
This is also really a copula structure, combined with a paraphrastic construction using the
relative of the substantive verb at (literally, ìt is a pen which is in it'). The copula does not
appear in the affirmative (`zero copula'), but it emerges in the negative and interrogative, where
the (negative/interrogative) copula resurfaces:
N peann at ann.
An peann at ann? Sea.
It's not a pen.

Is it a pen? Yes.
This construction is used in Donegal wherever one might use the regular classification sentence; it
may be used e.g. to express occupations or characteristics:
Minteoir at ionam.
Nach banaltra ta inti? N hea.
Ceoltir maith at ann.
I am a teacher.
Isn't she a nurse? No.
He's a good musician.
4. Tortha (Countries)
Most names of countries are used with the article (compare French la France). However, the
countries traditionally of greatest importance to Irish speakers, namely Ireland, England, Scotland
and America, are not used with the article:
Is maith liom an Fhrainc.
Is fearr liomsa ire.
I like France.
I prefer Ireland.
65
Tortha (Countries)
ire
Albain
Sasana
Meirice
an Fhrainc
an Iodil
an Ghearmin
an Spinn
an siltr
an Eoraip
an ise
an Astril
in irinn
in Albain
i Sasana
i Meirice
sa Fhrainc
san Iodil
sa Ghearmin
sa Spinn
san siltr
san Eoraip
san ise
san Astril
Ireland
Scotland
England
America, USA
France
Italy
Germany
Spain
Holland
Europe
Asia
Australia
5. Cpla à couple, a few'

The word cpla à couple, a few' is followed by the nominative singular of the noun; there is
no mutation:
cpla focal
cpla rud
cpla peann
a few words
a few things
a few pens.
6. An tSeachtain (The Week)

There are two sets of forms for the days of the week, depending on whether the day functions as
a subject or an adverb. As the subject of the sentence it is in the nominative case; if used
adverbally, it is preceded by the element D `day' (or Oche `night') and is in the genitive case
(òn the day of Monday'). The adverbial set is used in answer to the question `when', and
whenever one could use the preposition òn' in English:
Inniu an Luan.
N bheidh m anseo D Luain.
Bh an Mhirt fliuch.
Bh s iontach fliuch D Mirt.
Today is Monday.
I won't be there on Monday.
Tuesday was wet.
It was very wet on Tuesday.
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An tSeachtain
an Luan
an Mhirt
an Chadaoin
an Dardaoin
an Aoine
an Satharn
an Domhnach
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
D Luain
D Mirt
D Cadaoin
Dardaoin
D hAoine
D Sathairn
D Domhnaigh
Cn l at ann inniu?
C huair a bheidh t ann?
Cn l a bheidh t ann?
ag an deireadh seachtaine
maidin inni
maidin amrach
maidin inn
maidin D Mirt
trthnna D hAoine
Oche Luain
Oche Mhirt
Oche Chadaoin
Oche Dhardaoin
Oche Aoine
Oche Shathairn
Oche Dhomhnaigh
What day is today?

When will you be there?
What day will you be there?
on the weekend
this morning
tomorrow morning
yesterday morning
Tuesday morning
Friday afternoon
1. Put the translation sentences from Ceacht 6, Ceachtanna #1, into the future tense:
1. Nach mbeidh an aimsir go hlainn? Beidh.
2. Obair Bheirte
Cad a bheidh t ag danamh nuair a bheidh t crochnaithe leis an ollscoil? Interview your
partner, then report to the class.
Here are some possible responses:
Beidh m i mo mhinteoir.
Beidh m i mo mhac linn iarchimeach
Beidh m i mo lachtir
Beidh m i mo cheoltir
Beidh m i mo dhochtir etc.
3. Chain Drill
Beidh Sle ina dochtir - Sen - mise - banaltra - n bheidh - Siobhn - an mbeidh - mac linn muid - minteoir - dlodir - aisteoir.
67

a) Use stative expressions.
1. She is a doctor.
2. He is not a musician.
3. Are you a teacher? Yes.
4. I am an actor.
5. His mother is a lecturer.
b) Use the paraphrastic construction with ionam etc popular in Donegal.
5. Obair Bheirte: C mbeidh t D Luain?
Cad a bheidh t a dhanamh an tseachtain seo chugainn? Ask your partner about his/her week
and say what you'll be doing each day: D Luain, beidh m....
6. Count Dracula & Co
Remember our friends from Ceacht 2? Make up a blurb about one of the following individuals,
stating where they're from, where they live now, what languages they speak. Say something
about their likes and dislikes, too:
Count Dracula (Rmineach / as an Rmin / Rminis): Seo Count Dracula. Is as an Rmin .
T s ina chna i seanchaislen sa Rmin, in aice le Bucarest. T Rminis lofa aige. Is duine
deas cairdiil , ach n maith leis uisce n bainne. Is fearr leis fuil.
Niall Dnaill (Meiricenach / i Meirice / Barla)
Leah Mller (Gearmineach / as an Ghearmin / Gearminis agus Barla)
Pierre Victoire (Frainceach / as an Fhrainc / Fraincis)
Giuseppe Verdi (Iodileach / as an Iodil / Iodilis)
Mirn N Ghallchir (as an Ghaeltacht / ireannach / as irinn / Gaeilge agus Barla)
Obair Bhaile
1. Will you be there tomorrow? Yes.
2. Im sorry, but I wont be free on Tuesday. I will have time next week.
3. We were working last night, and well be working again tonight.
4. Why dont you have a hat on? Youll have a cold tomorrow.
5. They arent hungry now, but theyll be very hungry later.
6. Theyll know next week.
7. Will Samus be there on Monday? No; hell be studying.
8. They wont be working; theyll be eating and drinking.
9. Wont he be disappointed?
10. Will she be worried?
68

1. Sunday will be wet, but I dont care. I will be in Aruba!
2. Will you (sg) be here on Sunday?
3. The shop will be too crowded on Saturday.
4. Today is Saturday, and Im not working. I love Saturday.
5. We will have a meeting on Wednesday. Will they be there? No.
6. Ill be studying on Friday.
7. Shes leaving on Monday.
8. There will be a movie on Thursday.
9. They wont be here on Tuesday.
10. Friday will be bright and sunny.
TEANGA IS C ULTR
An tSeachtain (The Week)
The seven-day week was introduced to Ireland by the Christian missionaries. The words for the
days of the week reflect this origin; some are borrowed from the Imperial Roman calendar (with
correspondences in all Romance languages), some reflect Christian practice.
The calendar of Republican Rome did not recognize a seven-day week. However, like
elsewhere in the ancient world, the phases of the moon were observed in Roman tradition, and
each day was believed to be under the control of one of the planets. When Emperor Constantine
in the year 321 introduced the Judeo-Christian week as a calendar unit as part of his effort to
make Christianity the state religion, the Latin names of the week days reflected this astrological
identification:
Latin
dies solis or
dominicus
dies lunae
dies Martis
dies Mercurii
dies Jovis
dies Veneris
dies Saturni
French
sun
moon
Mars
Mercury
Jupiter
Venus
Saturday
Irish
dimanche
lundi
mardi
mercredi
jeudi
vendredi
samedi
an Domhnach
an Luan
an Mhirt
an Chadaoin
an Dardaoin
an Aoine
an Satharn
Sunday
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Christians preferred using the term `the Lord's day' (dominicus) for Sunday, and Irish Domhnach
is derived from dominicus just as French dimanche, Spanish domingo and Italian domenica.
Wednesday through Friday, finally, reflect Christian practice of having a pattern of
weekly fasting in commemoration of the events of Holy Week. Friday, the day of Christ's death,
69
is the main fast, Wednesday is a semi-fast:

an Chadaoin
an Dardaoin
an Aoine
`the first fast'

`day between the fasts' (< dia idir aoine)
`the fast'.
Rann
Dnall ar meisce
a bhean ag l uisce
is na pist ag caoineadh
Luan go Luan.
Dnall on the drink

his wife drinks water
and the children crying
day in day out.
Rann: An tSeachtain
Inniu an Domhnach
Beidh muid ag foghlaim.
Today is Sunday
We'll be studying.
Inniu an Luan
Beidh muid ciin.
Today is Monday
We'll be quiet.
Inniu an Mhirt
beidh muid i bpirt.
Today is Tuesday
We'll be friends.
Inniu an Chadaoin
Beidh muid ag l d.
Today is Wednesday
We'll be having a drink.
Inniu an Dardaoin
Beidh muid dmhaoin.
Today is Thursday
We'll be poor.
Inniu an Aoine
Beidh muid ag caoineadh.
Today is Friday
We'll be weeping.
Inniu an Satharn
beidh muid ag achrann:
Cad a bheidh eadrainn?
Cat agus madadh.
(CC #232)
Today is Saturday
We'll be fighting:
What will come between us?
A cat and a dog.
Samhain (Halloween) and the Celtic Year

Samhain, on the first of November, is one of four native Gaelic festivals. Spaced at three-month
intervals, the four festivals divide the year into even quarters corresponding to the Irish seasons.
70
Gaelic society being fundamentally pastoralist, the year was divided into a summer half, when
out-door grazing was possible, and a winter half, when cattle needed supplementary feeding.
Bealtaine, on the first of May, marks the beginning of summer, Samhain marks its end (it appears
to be derived from the word for summer, sam in Old Irish, cf. Modern Irish samhradh). This
primary division of the year is intersected by two agricultural festivals: St Brigid's Day (February
first) marks the beginning of the agricultural year, and Lnasa (August first), a harvest festival,
marks its ending. It is worth noting that of the four festivals, only St Brigid's Day has been given
an overt Christian name and significance; in medieval literature it is also referred to as Imbolc. All
four festivals are marked by a wealth of traditional ritual practice. Kevin Danaher has pointed out
that all four share certain features not present in other festivals, such as more or less unruly
processions in disguise by the younger folk, and a wealth of propitiatary ritual intended to
protect the community from the encroachment of the otherworld (Danaher 1977).
Another division of the year into quarters under the auspices of Christianity is marked by
four festivals important in the Christian calendar, St John's Eve, Michaelmas, Christmas, and St
Patrick's Day. Two rhymes from the repertoire of the co. Kerry storyteller Sen Conaill from
County Kerry speaks of the native divisions as `true' (frinneach), the Christian divisions as
`crooked' (cam), presumably referring to the fact that the native festivals were spaced at exact
intervals, while the Christian ones are approximate:
Rith Frinneacha na Bliana (The True Quarters of the Year)
Rithe Lnasa go Samhain
Rithe Shamhain go L 'le [=Fhile] Brde
Rithe L 'le Brde go Bealtaine
Rithe Bhealtaine go Lnasa.
A quarter from Lnasa to Samhain

A quarter from Samhain to St Brigid's Day
A quarter from St Brigid's Day to Bealtaine
A quarter from Bealtaine to Lnasa.
Rith Cama na Bliana (The Crooked Quarters of the Year)

Rithe L 'le Shan Sein go L 'le Mchl
Rithe L 'le Mchl go Nollaig
Rithe Nollaig go L 'le Pdraig
Rithe L 'le Pdraig go L 'le Shan Sein
[SOCB, 353]
A quarter from St John's to Michaelmas

A quarter from Michaelmas to Christmas
A quarter from Christmas to St Patrick's
A quarter from St Patrick's to St John's.
Oche Shamhna
All fruit and produce had to be stored by Samhain; fruit left after that, even if it was still edible,
was considered to be `touched' and unfit for human consumption. As we might expect with an
end-of-summer festival, the special fruits associated with the festival are apples and nuts; other
fruit have made an appearance in recent times, but all the traditional games involve the native
fruits (Danaher 1977, 123): Children, hands tied on their backs, dunk for apples swimming in a
basin of water, or try to grab the apples from the two ends of a spinning cross-piece of wood,
which had burning candles attached to the other bar.
Like all Irish calendar festivals, the festival begins on the eve, Oche Shamhna `the night
71
of Samhain'. On Oche Shamhna the walls between this world and the other world are permeable.
The inhabitants of the otherworld, referred to euphemistically as `the good people', `the little
people', or even `the gentry' (na daoine maithe; na daoine beaga; na daoine uaisle) were thought
to roam about. The dead were thought to visit the homes they used to inhabit, and chairs were set
for them by the fire ( Grianna 1976, 33). Since Samhain is the quintessential liminal festival,
marking the beginning of the new, darker half of the year, and allowing access to things normally
hidden, many practices of divining the future are associated with it. Young unmarried women and
to some extent men would attempt to ascertain the name of their future partner. A head of
cabbage was hung up over the door: the first person to enter was the one you were destined to
marry ( Grianna, 33). If you had a sweetheart already, you would place two nuts near the fire
and name them after your lover and yourself: if they jumped in the same direaction, all was well,
if they did not, the match was not to be. Other divination games included cluiche na bhfochupn
(`the game of saucers'): a blindfolded person, usually a girl, had to choose one of a number of
saucers: if she chose the one containing water, it meant emigration; the ring meant marriage in the
coming year; the coin meant wealth, and the earth meant early death. A ring and similar tokens of
the future were also baked into the bairn breac, anglicised as `Barmbrack', a sweet loaf eaten
during the festival.
Given the ubiquitous presence of the unseen on Halloween, the practice of going from
house to house would appear audacious, and most family traditions took place indoors.
However, to unruly members of the community, especially adolescent boys and young men, this
might have been a welcome opportunity to make mischief, and there is some evidence that in
some areas young men did go around in disguise, playing pranks and extorting sweets or money,
reciting rhymes such as this one:
Rann: Anocht Oche Shamhna
Ahem! Ahem!
Anocht Oche Shamhna!
Cuir muc in r measc!
Foiligh do phnaire, a bhean an t
Is na foiligh mo chuidse arin n d
Finn, finn! ochtarn, uachtarn!
Itheadh na caoirigh na copga
Agus ithimis an grinseachn.
Hurrah! Seo, a mhistres,
Cuardaigh do phca
Agus tabhair rud igin do na buachaill
Agus scaoil chun siil iad
N buail m fin idir an d shil
Le posa leathchornach.
(CC #257)
Ahem! Ahem!
Tonight is Halloween!
Put a pig before us!
Hide your beans, Woman of the House,
But not my share of bread or drink;
Fnn [Fenians], finn! Servant, master!
Let the sheep eat dock leaves
And let us eat frumenty.
Hurrah! Now, Mistress,
Search your pockets
Give something to the lads
And let them go
Or hit me between my eyes
With a half crown coin!
72
SIL SIAR (REVISION ): CEACHT 4 - CEACHT 7

say Ì am (not) / I was (not) / I will (not) be' (4.1; 6.1; 7.1)
say òn me, on you, on him, on her, on us, on you, on them' (4.2)
say that you are very angry (4.2)
say that the house is very big (two options in Donegal); really big; too big (4.3)
say that ine is beautiful (4.4)
say `How are you; what is your name; what does he look like?' (4.5)
say Ì am (not) working' (5.1)
say àt me, at you, at him, at her, at us, at you, at them' (5.1)
say Ì have no money; I speak Irish; I can swim' (5.1)
say Ì am asleep; he is standing; she is asleep; they are sitting down' (5.2)
say that the weather is beautiful / bad; say that it's a nice day (5.3)
say that you have broken the window and have not yet written the letter (5.4)
say that the book is on a chair / on the chair/ on a table / under the table / in the library / in the
house (6.2)
say where you were last night (6.3)
say what kind of rooms there are in your house (6.4)
say that you will be a teacher / postgraduate student / actor (7.2&3)
say ìn me, in you, in him, in her, in us, in you, in them' (7.3)
say where you went on holidays last summer (7.4)
say `today is Monday /Tuesday / Wednesday' etc; say that you will be in school on Monday,
Tuesday etc (7.5)
Revision Exercises
1. The man does not have a house.
2. The woman is wearing a hat.
3. The girl has a headache.
4. The student had a car.
5. The book is on the table.
6. Do they speak Spanish? No, but they speak Italian and Greek.
7. We dont have money, but we dont care.
8. She has long blonde hair and brown eyes.
9. Sle was dancing, and Nuala was reading.
10. I am not tired, I am hungry!
2. Transpose the following sentences into the past and future tense. The first sentence is done for
you:
73
An bhfuil t ceart go leor? T. Àre you all right? Yes.' / An raibh t ceart go leor? Bh. / An
mbeidh t ceart go leor? Beidh.
1. An bhfuil t ceart go leor? T.
2. Nl fearg ar a mhthair.
3. T an piste ina chodladh.
4. An mbeidh t sa bhaile? Beidh.
5. N bheidh m tuirseach.
6. Beidh muid ag lamh.
7. Bh s ag ccaireacht.
8. N raibh bia ar bith sa chuisneoir.
9. An raibh an minteoir ssta leis an obair? Bh.
10. T thas ar an chailn.
74
8
CEACHT A HO CHT
FOCLIR
abair20
baltaU
amach
bain
bain de
b
bris
caithfidh
cantalach
ceannaigh
cuir
cuir ar
cuisneoir (m)
cpla
cpla uair
de (dom, dot, de, di, dnn, dbh, dobh)
dan
dan deifir
do (dom, duit, d, di, dinn, daoibh, dibh)
druidU
ist
faigh
filte romhat/romhaibh!
fan
foghlaim
foscail,U oscail
glac
glan
goitseU
go raibh maith agat/agaibh
i gceann tamaill
is fidir le X
isteach
ith
le do thoil / le bhur dtoil
labhair
20
say
able
out
take
take off (clothes)
be
break
must
grumpy
buy
put
put on (clothes)
fridge
a couple, a few
a few times
from (from me, from you ...)
do
hurry up
to, for
close
listen
get
welcome; you (sg/pl) are welcome
wait
learn
open
take
clean
come here
thank you (sg/pl)
in a little while
X is able, X can
in
eat
please (sg/pl)
speak
All verbs are listed in the 2 sg imperative, the so-called `dictionary form.'
75
ligh
lig do scth
mar a deir siad
n
n b buartha
n dan dearmad ar X
n habair
obair, f. gen. na hoibre
l
rith
rud
saoiste (m)
scrobh
sos
sil
stad
suas
suigh
tabhair
tar
tigh
uair
read
relax
as they say
do not
don't worry
don't forget X
don't mention it; you're welcome
work
drink
run
thing
boss
write
down
walk
stop
up
sit
give
come
go
hour, time
COMHR
Sle comes home exhausted from her first day of work temping as a secretary; Pdraign pampers
her.
Sle: Dia duit, a Phdraign.
Pdraign: Dia is Muire duit! Goitse, a Shle. T mise sa chistin. An bhfuil s ag cur? Bain dot
do chta - t s fliuch bite. Cad mar at t, a chro? T cuma thuirseach ort.
Sle: T m rud beag tuirseach ceart go leor.
Pdraign: Suigh sos anseo agus lig do scth. Seo duit cupn tae.
Sle: Go raibh cad maith agat.
Pdraign: N habair . An bhfuil ocras ort? Ta bia sa chuisneoir. Glac rud igin le hithe!
Sle: T m ceart go leor, go raibh maith agat. Beidh m ag ithe i gceann tamaill.
Pdraign: Bhuel, a chailn, cad mar at do phost nua ag dul?
Sle: T s ceart go leor. T cuid mhaith oibre le danamh agam. T mo shaoiste rud beag
cantalach. Dan seo! Dan sid! Foscail an fhuinneog! Faigh cupn caife dom! Fach ar an
urlr: t s an-salach. Glan anois ! Agus n b ag caint ar an teileafn! Ach n bheidh m ann ach
cpla uair sa tseachtain, agus t s maith go leor.
Pdraign: An bhfuil an t-airgead go maith?
Sle: T. T s an-rasnta.
Pdraign: Ah bhuel. Ìs an bia capall na hoibre,' mar a deir siad.
76
CEACHT A HO CHT / LESSON EIGHT
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. An Modh Ordaitheach (The Imperative)
The imperative is used with close friends and family members, and when giving directions (more
polite commands or requests are expressed by the conditional).
The second person singular imperative has the same form as the verbal stem. This is the so-called
`dictionary form', i.e. the form under which any given verb will be listed in a dictionary, because
it is identical with the stem of the verb:
Glan an t-urlr!
Clean the floor!
For the second person plural, the ending -(a)ig is normally (see below for minor modifications)
added to the stem:
Cuirig na leabhair ar an tbla! Put the books on the table!
Danaig an obair bhaile!
Do the homework!
The second person singular and plural are the forms most commonly used, but third singular (`let him/her do') and
first person plural (`let us do') are also occasionally used. Here is the full paradigm:
glan `clean'
glanaim
glan
glanadh s/si
clean'glanaimis
glanaig
glanaids
`let
`let
`let
`let
`let
`let
ceannaigh `buy'
ceannam
ceannaigh
ceannaodh s/s
ceannamis
ceannag
ceannads
me clean'
you (sg) clean'
him/her
us clean'
you (pl) clean'
them clean'
`let me buy'
`let you (sg) buy'
`let him/her buy'
`let us buy'
`let you (pl) buy'
`let them buy'
The negative particle is n, which causes no mutation, but prefixes `h' to a vowel:
N brisig an fhuinneog!
N habair !
Dont break the window (pl)!

Dont mention it (sg)!
1.1 First Conjugation Verbs

There are two two conjugations of verbs in Irish; the first conjugation is comprised mostly of
monosyllabic stems (i.e. the so-called dictionary form has one syllable only), but also has some
verbs with a polysyllabic stem (more than one syllable). The second conjugation contains only
polysyllabic verbs. The difference between the two conjugations is not very marked in the case
of the imperative, but for future reference it is as well to discuss and learn the verbs according to
the conjugation they belong to.
1.1A. Monosyllabic Verb Stems
To form the second person plural imperative, first-conjugation verbs add -ig to stems which end
77
in a slender vowel (e.g. cuir), and -aig to stems which end in a broad vowel (e.g. fan). Verbs
ending in a slender consonant. The verbs in the list below should be treated as vocabulary items
and mastered:
bain
bainig
ag baint
take
cuir
cuirig
ag cur
put
siil
siilig
ag sil
walk
rith
rithig
ag rith
run
bris
brisig
ag briseadh
break
ist
istig
ag isteacht
listen
U
U
U
druid
druidig
ag druidim
close21
tit
titig
ag titim
fall
U
tuig
tuigig
ag tuigbheil
understand
Verbs ending in a broad consonant:
seas
seasaig
fan
fanaig
l
laig
stad
stadaig
tg
tgaig
fach
fachaig
scrobh
scrobhaig
glan
glanaig
scuab
scuabaig
gabh
gabhaig
goitseU
goitsig
pg
pgaig
ps
psaig
iarr (ar)
iarraig (ar)
gearr
gearraig
ag seasamh
ag fanacht
ag l
ag stad
ag tgil
ag fachaint
ag scrobh
ag glanadh
ag scuabadh
ag gabhil
[-]
ag pgadh
ag psadh
ag iarraidh
ag gearradh
stand
wait, stay
drink
stop
lift, take
look
write
clean
brush
go
come here22
kiss
marry
want; ask for
cut
Monosyllabic Stems in -igh

Monosyllabic verb stems ending in -igh used to add -ig just like the verbs above, but the spelling
reform of the mid-twentieth century simplified the spelling -ighig [pronounced i:gi] to -g:
suigh
sug
ag su
sit
luigh
lug
ag lu
lie (down)
nigh
ng
ag n
wash
As usual with spelling reforms there were some hitches. In some cases the -ighi- became reduced
to simple i rather than , in order to prevent a proliferation of snte fada:
ligh
lig
ag lamh
read
21
In the south, the verb dn (dnaig; ag dnadh) is used instead of druid.

This is not really a verb at all, but a contraction of gabh anseo. The plural form goitsig is thus historically
spurious, but demonstrates the creative process at work in a living language.
22
78
1.1B. Polysyllabic Verb Stems

Most slender polysyllabic first-conjugation verbs are de-palatalized (made broad) to add the
plural ending:
Sbhil
sbhlaig
ag sbhil
save
vtil
vtlaig
ag vtil
vote
taispein
taispenaig
ag taispeint
show
Some slender stems, however, are not de-palatalized:
tiomin
tiominig
ag tiomint
drive
There are also a few verbal stems which are broad:

teagasc teagascaig
ag teagasc
teach.
1.2. Second Conjugation Verbs

1.2A. Polysyllabic Stems in -igh
By far the largest group of verbs in the second conjugation end in -(a)igh. Before the spelling
reform, these used to add -ig to the stem to form the imperative plural, but, as with the firstdeclension verbs in -igh, the spelling -ighig was reduced to -g:
deisigh formerly deisighig > now deisg
Verbs ending in igh:
irigh
irg
deisigh
deisg
imigh
img
bailigh
bailg
disigh
disg
ag ir
ag deisi
ag imeacht
ag baili
ag diseacht
get up
mend
leave
gather, collect
wake up
Verbs ending in aigh:

ceannaigh
ceannag
crochnaigh crochnag
ag ceannach
ag crochn
buy
finish
1.2B. Syncopated Stems

Disyllabic verbs ending in a consonant (rather than -igh) add the plural imperative ending to the
stem, resulting in a multisyllabic verbform. There is a tendency in Irish to `syncopate' such
polysyllabic forms by dropping an internal vowel or vowels:
foscailU
imir
labhair
fosclagU
imrg
labhrag
ag foscladhU
ag imirt
ag labhairt
1.2C. Stems That Resist Syncopation

23
Outside Donegal, the form oscail (oscag, ag oscailt) is used.
79
open23
play
speak
Not all second-declension verbs are amenable to syncopation; syncope is not an option when the
vowel in question is long, or in cases where the loss of a vowel would lead to unpronouncable
consonant clustering. In such cases the plural imperative ending is simply added to the stem:
foghlaim
foghlaimg
ag foghlaim
learn
tarraing
tarraingg
ag tarraingt
pull
1.3. Irregular Verbs
There is a small group of verbs that do not conform to either of the two conjugations in all of
their forms. These eleven verbs are called ìrregular.' The formation of the imperative is not
irregular in all irregular verbs, but with a few of the irregular verbs, different parts of the verb,
such as the singular and the plural imperative (as well as, in some cases, the verbal noun) are
derived from different (`suppletive') roots.
b
feic
cluin25
dan
tigh
faigh
abair
tabhair
tar
beir (ar)
ith
bg
feicig
cluing
danaig
tig
faighig
abraig
tugaig
tagaig / taraig
beirig (ar)
ithig
[bheith]24
ag feiceilU
ag cluinstin
ag danamh
ag dul
ag fil
ag r
ag tabhairt
ag teacht
ag breith
ag ithe
be
see
hear
do
go
get
say
give
come
catch
eat
2. An Tuiseal Gairmeach (The Vocative Case)

The vocative case is used when addressing a person, and is preceded by the vocative particle a,
which causes simhi:
Sle
cara
Donncha
Sheila
friend
Donncha
a Shle
a chara
a Dhonncha
Men's names and other masculine nouns ending in a broad consonant (i.e. belonging to the first
declension) have this consonant palatalized in the vocative:
Sen
Samus
amadn
John
James
fool
a Shein
a Shamuis
a amadin
24
NB The verbal noun of the substantive verb, bheith, is not, for obvious reasons, used in a compound tense with t,
and is never preceded by ag.
25
ist/istg tends to be used instead of cluin/cluing.
80
mac
son
a mhic
NB A couple of men's names ending in a broad consonant are NOT inflected: a Liam, a
Phroinsias.
2.1. Terms of Endearment
Terms of endearment are used in a wide range of contexts in Irish. Aside from their use in
romantic situations, they are commonly used by adults talking to children; women of any age
group use them frequently when addressing each other. Men tend to use them rather less among
themselves; a mhic (`sonny, dude') is used affectionately between men. With the exception of a
mhic, terms of endearment are not usually palatalized, even if, like str, rn or leanbh, they
belong to the first declension:
a str
a rn
a leanbh
a chro
a ghr
a chuid
a thaisce
a chuisle
a mhuirnn
treasure
darling (literally `desire')
child
heart
love
treasure (literally `share')
treasure
darling (literally `vein')
darling
Note that terms of endearment are not palatalized in the vocative, even if they end in a broad
consonant (str; rn; leanbh).
In romantic contexts the endearments may become more elaborate:
a ghr ghil mo chro
bright love of my heart
a mhle gr
my thousand love
a str mo chro
treasure of my heart
Imperatives are frequently accompanied by terms of endearment in the vocative case:
Foscail an doras, a str!
Ith do dhinnar, a thaisce!
Open the door, darling!

Eat your dinner, pet!
2.2. An Aidiacht (Adjectives)

An adjective following a noun or personal name in the vocative singular is also lenited; an
adjective following a masculine first-declension noun or personal name is both lenited and
palatalized:
cara dil
Sle Bheag
a chara dhil
a Shle Bheag
81
Sen Mr
a Shain Mhir
2.3. Writing a Letter

How to Open a Letter:
a dhuine uasail
a chara / a chairde
a chara liom
a sheanchara dhil
a Dhaid, a Dhaid
a Mham, a Mhama
a Shein dhil
a Shein, a chara
a Mhire dhil
a Risn, a str
dear Sir (a bhean uasal, a dhaoine uaisle, a mhn uaisle)

friend / friends (dear Sir / To Whom it May Concern)
dear friend
dear old friend
Dad, Daddy
Mum, Mummy
dear Sen
dear Sen
dear Mire
darling Risn
How to Close a Letter:

tabhair aire duit fin
sln agus beannacht
beir bua (agus beannacht)
is mise le meas
le gr Bhrd
gr mr
pg is barrg
take care
best wishes (`good-bye and a blessing')
be well / best wishes (`gain victory')
I remain respectfully
with love from Brd
much love
a kiss and a hug
3. Na Ramhfhocail `do' agus `de' agus a bhForainmneacha Ramhfhoclacha

(The Prepositions do and de)
DO `to, for'
dom, domh
duit
d
di
dinn
daoibh
dibh
DE `from, of'
to me
to you
to him
to her
to us
to you
to them
dom
dot
de
di
dnn
dbh
dobh
from me
from you
from him
from her
from us
from you
from them
Note that in many areas of Donegal, the prepositional pronouns dom, duit, d etc are always
used instead of dom, dot, de etc ( Baoill 1996, 95; Hughes 1994, 658). In writing, however, the
82
distinction between the two sets of prepositions is always maintained. The form dom is lenited
in most dialects of Donegal (it is often written domh), and pronounced [du:].
4. In and Out, Up and Down: Aspect and Direction
4.1. In and Out
Irish distinguishes between going in/out (direction) and being in/out (position):
gabh isteach agus fan istigh! Go in and stay inside!
gabh amach agus fan amuigh! Go out and stay outside!
isteach
amach
istigh
amuigh
4.1.1. Going home and being home

Note also the distinction between `going home' and `being home:'
abhaile `homewards'
sa bhaile àt home'
4.2. Up and Down

thuas
suas
anuas
sos
anos
thos
irigh suas!
disigh anuas!
an braon anuas t
seas suas!
suigh sos!
suas an staighre
sos an bthar
suas an tsrid
get up
wake up
he rain (`the drop from above')
sit up
sit down
up the stairs
down the road
up the street
83
1. dear John
2. dear Dad
3. o friend
4. o friends
5. o big fool
6. dear Mum
7. ladies and gentlemen
8. o son / hey dude
9. o noble teacher
10. dear friend
2. You are addressing the following people (by the Irish forms of their names):
John, Bridget, James, Kevin, Brian, George, Christopher, Kate, Paul, Patrick.
3. Litir do do spirbhean / spirfhear
You like someone a LOT. Write him/her a letter, making good use of your terms of endearments!
4. Translate the following sentences, using first the 2sg then the 2pl imperative:
1. Listen to him!
2. Call me (put a call on me) tomorrow. Ill be at home in the evening.
3. Dont leave now. Its too early.
4. Dont eat that!
5. Dont worry (dont be worried).
6. Watch them!
7. Give me the cup, please.
8. Do the homework.
9. Come with me.
10. Dont say that.
1. Get up, Sen, and come down.
2. Go out, Sle, and don't come back in!
3. Come in and sit down.
4. Don't go outside today.
5. The water was coming down on us.
6. I went up the stairs.
7. Is Aisling in? No, she's not home. She's outside.
8. Are you coming home?
9. Go home and stay home!
10. Are you upstairs? Come down!
84
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Rainn do Phist
Buail ar an doras
Is fach isteach
Ardaigh an laiste
Agus siil isteach
Suigh ar an stl
Agus b ag l
Cad mar at t ar maidin?
(CC #1)
Knock on the door

And look inside
Lift the latch
And walk inside
Sit on the stool
And have a drink:
How are you doing this morning?
Inis scal,
Cum brag
N b amuigh!
(CC #338)
Tell a story,
Make up a lie,
Or you're out!
Dh inn bheaga thuas ar an chrann,

Sin Peadar, sin Pl.
Imigh uaim a Pheadair
Imigh uaim a Phil.
Tar ar ais a Pheadair
Tar ar ais a Phil!
(CC #6b)
Two little birds up on the tree

That is Peadar, that is Pl.
Go away, Peadar
Go away, Pl
Come again Peadar
Come again Pl.
Aon, d, tr,
Fathach mr bu.
Rith isteach, rith amach,
Rith anonn is rith anall
N rith isteach i bpoll T an fathach ar do th:
Amach leat, amach leat!
(RR 27; cluiche folach bog)
One, two, three

A big ugly giant.
Run inside, run outside
Run over there and back again
Or run into a hole The giant's going to get you:
Out with you! Out with you!
(game of hide and seek)
85
Amhrn do Leanbh
Caithimid suas is suas
Caithimid suas an piste
Caithimid suas is suas
Is tiocfaidh s anuas amrach.
Let's throw him up and up

Let's throw the child up
Let's throw him up and up
And he'll come down tomorrow.
Rann
I d'ige, oscail do mheabhair,

Is bailigh an fhoghlaim leat.
In your youth open your mind

and gather learning as you go.
Seanfhocail
Ceart dom, ceart duit!
What's right for the gander is right for the goose.
N dan ns is n bris ns!
Don't make a law and don't break a law.
Is an bia capall na hoibre.
Food is a good workhorse.
Nl uasal n hseal
ach suas seal is sos seal.
There is no such thing as high and low,

only up for a while, and down for a while.
Amhrn: irigh Suas a Stirn
irigh suas, a stirn,

mura bhfuil t i do shu
Fosgail an doras,
agus lig mise chun t.
T buidal i m'aice
a bharfas deoch do mhnaoi an t
Is t sil agam
nach ndiltonn t m f d'inon.
Get up my darling
if you're not still up.
Open the door
and let me into the house.
I have a bottle for the housewife
to pour her a drink:
And I hope you won't refuse me
your daughter in marriage.
86
Traditional Irish First Names

Some Irish names have become very popular in the entire English-speaking world: Brendan
(Breandn), Kevin (Caoimhn), Bridget (Brd), Kathleen (Caitln), Moira (Mire), Maureen
(Mirn), Nra, and, more recently, Liam and Sen. In the case of names such as Brian, Neal
(US)/Neil (B&I), Kevin, and Sheila, most people may not even be aware that the name is
originally Irish.
Many traditional names are attested already in the earliest written records (from the
seventh century onwards) and appear to be native. These include, for women: ine, Ailbhe, Brd,
Eithne, Grinne, Sle, Sorcha, na; and for men: Conn, Fearghal, Fearghus, Oscar, Art, Cormac,
amonn, Eoghan, Tadhg, Dnall, Rnn, Oisn, Ruair and Caoimhn.
Irish naming practices did not change significantly during the first centuries of
Christianization, though Latinate names and Irish names reflecting religious practice make an
appearance in the written sources, especially for churchmen: Colmcille `the dove of the church';
Mel Muire `devotee (tonsured one) of St Mary.' The name of the Virgin Mary, Muire, was
borrowed early, but there is no indication that it was used as a girl's name.
As elsewhere in Europe, naming practices changed drastically with the church reforms of
the twelfth century. The custom of naming children after popular Christian saints brought about
the spread of a more or less uniform set of names throughout Europe. Many of the most common
Irish names were introduced to Ireland at this juncture. Some of the most common saints' names
for women are:
Cit
Kate
(a Chit)
Citln
Kathleen
(a Chaitln)
ils
Elizabeth
(a ils)
Bairbre
Barbara
(a Bhairbre)
Mire
Mary
(a Mhire)
Nra
Honora
(a Nra)
Some common Christian names for men are:
Peadar
Peter
(a Pheadair)
Pl
Paul
(a Phil)
Mchel
Michael
(a Mhcheil)26
Labhrs
Laurence
(a Labhrais)
Liam
William
(a Liam)
Proinsias
Francis
(a Phroinsias)
Crostir
Christopher
(a Chrostir)
Pdraig
Patrick
(a Phdraig)
Seoirse
George
(a Sheoirse)
Muiris
Maurice
(a Mhuiris)
Since the Celtic Revival around the turn of the nineteenth century, the names of Irish heroes and
heroines from the medieval sagas started to become fashionable among English speakers. Names
such as Maeve (Mabh), Connor (Conchobhor), Emer, Niamh and Fergus from the Ulster cycle
26
In Munster, the vocative of Mchel is a Mhchl.
87
of tales, Fionn, Oisn, Dermot (Diarmuid) and Grinne from the Fenian cycle, and Cormac from
the historical cycle, which had become rare after the medieval period, became popular again. The
name Emer is a case in point: It is usually pronounced [i:mer] today, whereas in Old Irish it was
pronounced [ver]. Another modernism is the name Aisling; the word, meaning `dream,' only
became popular as a name for a woman in the twentieth century. 27
Girls' names based on Irish place names, such as Erin (Ireland), Shannon (the river), and
Tara (the seat of the Irish high kings in Irish myth), may first have gained currency among Irish
Americans as a symbol of identification with their ethnic homeland; of these, only Tara is
occasionally used in Ireland.
27
In the earliest literature an aisling refers to a dream vision of a beautiful woman; in seventeenth-century political
aisling poetry, the woman in the vision was typically a personification of Ireland. These personifications (Dark
Rosaleen, Kathleen Ni Hoolihan etc) had a great appeal to the cultural nationalist imagination.
88
9
CEACHT A NAOI
FOCLIR
ag bualadh le X
ag moladh
ag riteach le chile
ag troid
aintn (f)
an L Altaithe (m)
anuas; le cpla bliain anuas
aon, amhin
arasn (m)
ar dts
ar dighU
athair mr, seanathair (m)
bean chile (f)
beirt (f)
an bheirt acu
bus (m)
bain sult as!
barraochtU (f)
blasta
c hit a ndeachaigh t?
cad a tharla?
ceathair, ceithre
chuig
clann (f)
cig
carr (m)
col ceathrair (m)
colscartha
colscaradh (m)
cuir glao ar X
dall
dan dearmad
dea-scal (m)
drochscal (m)
droch-chuideachta (f)
meeting X
praising
getting on with each other
fighting
aunt
Thanksgiving Day
upwards, for; for a couple of years
one
apartment
at first, in the beginning
great, excellent
grandfather
wife
two people
the two of them
bus
enjoy!
too much
tasty
where did you go?
what happened?
four
to
children, offspring
five
car
cousin
divorced
divorce
call X (on the phone)
blind
forget
good news28
bad news
bad company
28
The forms dea-scala and drochscala are also used; scala functions as a collective noun with the meaning
`news, tidings, message.'
89
deich
d, dh
eitlen (m)
fear cile
galnta
glasra
go bhfire Dia ar X
iarsmalann, (f); pl iarsmalanna
i maonar (i d'aonar, ina aonar etc)
is digh liom (go)
is dcha (go)
mar sin
mar de ghnth
mthair mhr, seanmhthair
milseog (f)
muintir
neacht (f)
nia (m)
naoi
nuair a
ocht
stn (m)
pig puimcn
psta
rbhruite
s
seacht
scartha
singil
sona ssta
teaghlach
toirtn ll
traein (f)
tr
turca (m)
uimhir (f)
uiligU
uncail (m)
ten
two
plane
husband
nice, fine
vegetables
may God have mercy on X
museum
by myself (by yourself, by himself etc)
I think (that)
it is probable (that)
so, thus
as usual
grandmother
dessert
family
niece
nephew
nine
when
eight
hotel
pumpkin pie
married
overcooked
six
seven
separated
single
very happy
household, family
apple tart
train
three
turkey
number
all
uncle
COMHR
Sara and Sen, who are studying Irish in Boston, are discussing their respective Thanksgiving
experiences.
Sara: Dia duit a Shein. Cad mar at t?
90
CEACHT A NAOI / LESSON NINE
Sen: T m go bre, go raibh maith agat. C raibh t ag an deireadh seachtaine? Chuir m glao ort
cpla uair.
Sara: Chuaigh m abhaile go Nua Eabhrac don L Altaithe.
Sen: Cad mar a bh s?
Sara: Bh s go hiontach. Bh s an-deas gach aon duine a fheiceil.
Sen: C a bh ann?
Sara: Bh mo mhuintir uilig ann: m'athair agus mo mhthair, mo dhearthir agus a bhean chile,
agus a gclann: t beirt nia agam agus neacht.
Sen: An raibh do dheirfir Mire ann chomh maith?
Sara: Bh. Bh Mire ann lena fear cile.
Sen: An bhfuil s psta? N raibh a fhios agam sin.
Sara: T, le cpla bliain anuas, go bhfire Dia uirthi!
Sen: Cad chuige? Cad at cearr?
Sara: Nl siad ag riteach rmhaith le chile. Bh siad ag troid an oche ar fad, agus mise i mo shu
ag an tbla idir an bheirt. Bh s uafsach. - Agus t fin? An ndeachaigh t abhaile?
Sen: Chuaigh. Thinig m ar ais dreach inniu.
Sara: Ar bhain t sult as?
Sen: Bhain; bh s ar digh. Bh gach aon duine toigh mo sheanmhthar mar de ghnth. Ach nl
m cinnte go mbeidh muid ag dul ann ars.
Sara: Cad chuige?
Sen: T mo sheanmhthair ag ir sean, agus t s rud beag dall. Is ccaire rasnta , ach n raibh
an bia rdheas an t-am seo. An bhean bhocht! Bh an turca dite go dona, bh na glasra rbhruite,
agus n raibh na prta rsta go leor. Bh gach aon duine ag r go raibh an bia go galnta ar ndigh!
Bh milseog dheas againn, buochas le Dia; rinne mo mhthair toirtn ll a bh iontach blasta, agus
cheannaigh mo dhearthir uachtar reoite.
Sara: Fuair tusa an drochbhia agus mise an droch-chuideachta mar sin.
Sen: Fuair. Nl m cinnte c acu is fearr.
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. An Aimsir Chaite (The Past Tense)
1.1. Regular Verbs
The past tense of regular verbs, both first- and second-conjugation, is formed by leniting the
initial consonant of the stem:
Bhris s a chuid spacla.
Chrochnaigh m an obair.
He broke his glasses.

I finished the work.
Stems beginning with a vowel (or a lenited `f') are prefixed by d:

D'ith m mo bhricfeasta ar a naoi a chlog.
D'fhan m leis.
D'fhreagair s m.
I ate breakfast at nine oclock.

I waited for him.
He answered me.
91
Negative:
Interrog.:
Neg. int.:
nor
ar
nr
Nor ith m go fill.

Ar dhruid t an doras?
Nr bhain t sult as an l?
I did not eat yet.

Did you close the door?
Didnt you enjoy the day?
1.2. Irregular Verbs

Affirmative
bh
chonaic
rinne
chuaigh
fuair
dirt
chuala
thug
thinig
rug (ar)
dith
Negative
n raibh
n fhaca
n dhearna
n dheachaigh
n bhfuair
n dirt
nor chuala
nor thug
nor thinig
nior rug (ar)
nor ith
ar ith
Interrogative
an raibh
an bhfaca
an ndearna
an ndeachaigh went
an bhfuair
an dirt
ar chuala
ar thug
gave
ar thinig
ar rug (ar)
ate
was
saw
did
got
said
heard
came
caught
Comhr Breise
Pdraign: C raibh t, a Aisling?
Aisling: Bh m ar laethanta saoire.
Padraign: C hit a ndeachaigh t?
Aisling: Chuaigh m go dt an Fhrainc. Bh m i bPras ar feadh cpla seachtain. Bh s go
hiontach.
Pdraign: An ndeachaigh t i daonar?
Aisling: N dheachaigh. Thinig mo chara ine liom.
Pdraign: Cad a rinne sibh i bPras?
Aisling: N dhearna muid mrn. Chuaigh muid go dt an Louvre agus iarsmalanna eile ar ndigh,
agus dith muid bia galanta.
Pdraign: An bhfaca sibh an Tr Eiffel?
Aisling: Chonaic cinnte.
Pdraign: An bhfuair sibh stn rasnta? Nach raibh s daor?
Aisling: N raibh. N bhfuair muid stn ar bith. D'fhan muid in arasn mo dheirfar at ag staidar
i bPras. Bh an-am againn.
2. Na hUimhreacha 1-10 (The Numbers 1-10)
2.1. Numbers Standing Alone
a haon one
a d
two
a tr
three
92
a ceathair
four
a cig
five
a s
six
a seacht
seven
a hocht
eight
a naoi
nine
a deich
ten
neamhn / nid zero
These numbers are used for:
2.1.1 Basic arithmetic:
a cig pinte a tr
(5.3)
a haon is a haon sin a d
(1 + 1 = 2)
a ceathair lide a d sin a d (4 - 2 = 2)
2.1.2. Giving your telephone number:
a ceathair a naoi a cig a haon a d neamhn a hocht (495-1208)
2.1.3. Playing cards:
an d spireata
an t-aon hart
an ceathair triuf
an seacht muileata
the two of spades

the one of hearts
the four of clubs
the seven of diamonds
2.1.4. Telling time (vide next chapter):

t s a haon a chlog
it's one o'clock
2.1.5. And all other contexts where numbers stand on their own:
a haon a d a tr
a-one, a-two, a-three
bus a d
bus number two
seomra a cig
room number five
ils a D
Elizabeth II
2.2. Numbers Followed by Nouns (Counting Objects)
Generally, the singular rather than plural form of the noun is used with numerals (but note the
important exceptions below). When counting objects, a different form of the numerals òne,' `two'
and `four' is used. Amhin, òne' follows the noun:
madadh amhin
one dog29
All other numbers precede the noun. The numbers 2-6 cause simhi:
29
Amhin means ònly'; it was initially presumably added for emphasis. The form aon is found in the construction
aon mhadadh amhin òne dog only' but madadh amhin has become the unmarked form.
93
dh mhadadh
tr chat
ceithre bhlth
cig bhlth
s bhuidal
two dogs
three cats
four flowers
five flowers
six bottles
The numbers 7-10 cause ur:

seacht mbuidal
ocht n-an
naoi gcapall
deich bpeann
seven bottles
eight birds
nine horses
ten pens
Counting Objects
capall amhin
dh chapall
tr chapall
ceithre chapall
cig chapall
s chapall
seacht gcapall
ocht gcapall
naoi gcapall
deich gcapall
capall ar bith
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
0
ll amhin
dh ll
tr ll
ceithre ll
cig ll
s ll
seacht n-ll
ocht n-ll
naoi n-ll
deich n-ll
ll ar bith
3. C hit a ndeachaigh t? `Where did you go?' (chuig; go; go dt)

3.1. chuig
Used when you're talking about going to an event or to see a person. Chuig causes no mutation;
when followed by the article an it causes seimhi:
Chuaigh Nra chuig drma.
Chuaigh Laim chuig an cheolchoirm.
Chuaigh s chuig an dochtir.
Chuaigh s chuig a deirfir.
Nra went to a play.

Liam went to the concert.
She went to the doctor.
She went to her sister.
94
CHUIG `to'
chugam
chugat
chuige
chuici
to me
to you
to him
to her
chugainn
chugaibh
chucu
to us
to you
to them
3.2. go
Used before placenames which are NOT preceded by the definite article (cities; certain countries,
incl. Ireland; US states). Go prefixes `h' to words beginning with a vowel:
Chuaigh m go Baile tha Cliath.
Chuaigh muid go hArd Mhacha.
T Sen ag dul go hirinn.
T m ag dul go Michigan.
I went to Dublin.
We went to Armagh.
Sen is going to Ireland.
I am goint to Michigan.
3.3. go dt
Used before placenames and any other nouns that are preceded by the article; does not affect
them in any way:30
Chuaigh s go dt an Fhrainc.
Thinig s go dt an siopa.
He went to France.
He came to the shop.
1. Form affirmative statements in the past tense from the following verbal stems, and then
convert these statements into questions and negative responses. Translate the verb stem.
Example: fan: `stay;' dfhan; ar fhan? nor fhan.
1. fg
2. ist
3. scrobh
4. ceannaigh
5. cuir
6. irigh
7. suigh
30
Go dt is not a preposition though it acts like one; it is originally a verbal phrase in the subjunctive ùntil you
come (to).'
95
8. crochnaigh
9. freagair
10. foghlaim
2. Translate the following sentences. Turn them into questions and answer them:
D'l s an bainne. `She drank the milk.' - Ar l s an bainne? D'l.
1. Ghlan s an t-urlr.
2. Bhris an piste an fhuinneog.
3. Dfhan s liom.
4. Dfhoscail muid an doras.
5. Cheannaigh m buidal uisce.
6. Chuaigh s abhaile.
7. Thinig Mire linn.
8. Thug m leabhar d.
9. Chuala s ceol.
10. Rinne m an obair.
3. Convert the following affirmative sentences into questions and negative responses, according
to the model:
Chonaic m. > An bhfaca m? N fhaca.
1. Chonaic s .
2. Chuala s .
3. Rinne siad .
4. Chuaigh muid ann.
5. Thug s leis .
6. Dirt t sin.
7. Thinig sibh anseo.
8. Fuair t .
9. Dith sibh.
10. Rug m air.
4. Translate the following questions into English and answer them, first in the affirmative, then in
the negative:
1. Ar thug t bia don chat?
2. An raibh do dheirfir sa bhaile?
3. An ndeachaigh t go dt an scannn?
4. Ar chuala t an scal sin?
5. Ar ith t do dhinnar?
6. An bhfaca t mo mhadadh?
7. An ndarna t d'obair bhaile?
8. An dirt s an fhrinne?
9. An bhfuair t bronntanas?
10. Ar rug an cat ar an luch?
96
11. Ar thinig Liam abhaile go fill?

1. Did you see that movie? Yes. It was great!
2. Did you hear the good news? No.
3. Did they go home last week? Yes.
4. Did he give you the book? No.
5. Did he do the homework already? Yes.
6. Did she get the job? No.
7. Did the dog catch the cat? No.
8. Did your sister come home on Thanksgiving Day? Yes.
1. five books
2. eight apples
3. two bottles
4. nine nights
5. six cats
6. seven oranges
7. three glasses
8. four cars
9. ten windows
10. one class
7. Cluiche: T Mla Mr Agam
You are going off to Hawai (or any place of your choice), and you need to pack a few things into
your travel bag. Start with the formula T m ag dul go Hawai amrach. T mla mr agam
agus tr bhuidal fon ann. The person next to you repeats that formula, but has to add an item of
his/her own: ... tr bhuidal fon agus seacht leabhar Gaeilge ann. NB The suitcase can
accommodate practically anything!
8. Cluiche: S Gh
Each student says a number from one to ten plus a noun (whoever repeats a noun must pay a
forfeit). However, s (6) is always followed by g `goose'.
9. Obair Ranga: Rang Mataimaitic as Gaeilge
Each student writes out a couple of simple equations on a piece of paper (in numbers not
words!). Students then take turns at the blackboard, writing out the equations dictated to them
by their peers. One student is nominated teacher and has to verify that both arithmetic and
orthography is correct!
10. Scrobh amach na huimhreacha seo a leanas (`Write out the following numbers') as Gaeilge:
1. 617-495-1000
97
2. 724-694-5353
3. 4+5=9
4. 6+4=10
5. 5.63
6. 7-5=2
11. Obair Bheirte: Laethanta Saoire: C raibh t anuraidh?
Pair up with another student and ask each other where you were on holidays last year. Ask each
other whether you ever were in a certain country, which countries you like etc.
12. Write about either
a) your trip home for Thanksgiving OR
b) the Thanksgiving from hell.
Describe the people who were there, say what you did and talked about, and what you ate and
drank.
98
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Rann Comhairimh `Counting Rhyme'
A haon, a d
caora is b.
A tr is a ceathair,
brga leathair.
A cig is a s
cupn tae.
A seacht is a hocht
seanbhean bhocht
A naoi is a deich
gabh i leith
Suigh sos
is lig do scth.
(CC #220)
One, two,
a sheep and a cow
three and four
leather shoes
Five and six
a cup of tea.
seven and eight
a poor old woman
Nine and ten
come here
sit down
and take it easy.
Rann do Phist
Chuaigh an mhuicn seo ar an aonach;

D'fhan an mhuicn seo ag baile;
Fuair an mhuicn seo arn is im;
N bhfuair an mhuicn seo dada;
`Bhoc, bhoc, bhoc,' arsa an bainbhn,
`T ocras ormsa.'
(RR 8)
This little pig went to market;

This little pig stayed home;
This little pig got bread and butter;
This little pig got nothing;
Òink, oink, oink,' said the piglet,
Ì'm hungry.'
Rann: Nuair a Bh M g
Nuair a bh m g agus m gan chill,
Cheannaigh m fidil ar scilling is ral.
Seo an port a bh ar casadh:
Òs cionn an chnoic is i bhfad bhaile'
(CC #300)
When I was young and foolish

I bought myself a fiddle for a shilling and a sixpense
The tune it was playing was
Òver the hills and far from home.'
99
Amhrn: T mo Chleamhnas Danta

d'irigh m ar maidin dh uair roimh an l
Agus fuair mise litir mo mhle gr;
Chuala m an smlach is an lon dubh a r
Gur alaigh mo ghr thar sile.
Since I got up this morning two hours before daybreak

And I got a letter from my own love
I have heard the lark and the blackbird sing
That my love has gone across the ocean.
Amhrn: Nl S ina L (II)

1.
Chuaigh m isteach i dteach arir
Is d'iarr m crt ar bhean an leanna;
Is dirt s liom: N bhfaighidh t deor,
Buail an bthar is gabh 'na bhaile.
1.
I went into a (ale)house last night
and asked the bar woman for credit
This is what she said: `You won't get a drop
Hit the road and go home.'
Curf:
Nl s ina l, nil a ghr
Nl s ina l, is ni bheidh go maidin
Nl s ina l, is n bheidh go fill
Solas ard at sa ghealaigh.
Refrain
It's not day yet, it isn't, love,
It's not day yet, and it won't be till morning
It's not day yet, and it won't be for a while
The moon is very bright.
2.
Chuir m fin mo lmh i mo phca
Is d'iarr m briseadh corin uirthi,
Is dirt s liom: `Buail an bord
Is b ag l anseo go maidin.'
2.
I put my hand in my pocket
and asked for change for a crown
This is what she said: `Sit at the table
and drink here until morning.'
3.
irigh i do shu, a fhir an t
Cuir ort do bhrste is do hata
Go gcoinn t ceol leis an duine cir
A bheas ag l anseo go maidin.
3.
`Get up, Man of the House
Put on your trousers and your hat
Keep this good man company
Who will be drinking here until morning.'
4.
Nach mise fin an fear gan chill
A d'fhg mo chos i mo scornaigh
D'fhg m lan orm fin
Is d'fhg m san ar dhaoine eile.
4.
Am I not a fool
I left my rent in my throat
I left sorrow for myself
and I left prosperity to others.
100
10
CEACHT A DEICH
FOCLIR
an t-am ar fad
bomaiteU (m)
braithim uaim th/sibh
bricfeasta (m)
ceathr (f), ceathr uair a'chloig
ceirtlis (f)
ceol clasaiceach
ceol traidisinta
ceolchoirm (f)
a chlog
cluiche (m)
de ghnth
deireadh seachtaine
dinnar (m)
drma (m)
dul ag iascaireacht
foireann (f)
gach l
go dt
go hannamh
go minic
i gcna
i ndiaidh
idir
imirt
lacht (f)
leadg (f)
leann (f)
leann dubh
leath
leathuair
ln (m)
luath, go luath
am go ham
peil (f)
pinteil
popa (m)
popcheol (m)
all the time

minute
I miss you
breakfast
quarter, quarter of an hour
cider (alcoholic)
classical music
traditional music
concert
oclock
game
usually
weekend
dinner
drama
go fishing
team, crew
every day
to, upto, until
seldom
often
always
after
between
play (a sport)
lecture
tennis
beer, ale
stout, porter
half
half hour
lunch
early
from time to time
soccer
painting
pipe
pop music
101
CEACHT A DEICH / LESSON TEN
rac-cheol (m)
scannn (m)
snagcheol (m)
tim a chodladh / a leaba
tobac (m)
toitn (m), pl toitn
uair (f), pl uaireanta
uair sa tseachtain
uaireanta
uisce beatha (m)
rockmusic
movie
jazz
I go to sleep / to bed
tobacco
cigarette
hour, time
once a week
sometimes
whiskey
LITIR ABHAILE
A Mhama,
Go raibh maith agat as do litir. D'iarr t orm insint duit faoi chrsa an lae anseo. Seo anois
iad. Tim chuig ranganna gach maidin ar a naoi n ar a deich, agus crochnam ar a cig. Danaim
staidar idir a hocht agus men oche. Uair sa tseachtain imrm leadg leis an fhoireann; oibrm sa
leabharlann ar an deireadh seachtaine. Anois is ars, tim amach le mo chairde san oche, ach de
ghnth, bm rthuirseach agus fanaim sa bhaile. Tim a chodladh ag men oche.
An bhfuil gach duine go maith sa bhaile? Cad mar at Daid? An bhfuil a chos nimhneach
go fill? N bhfuair m litir Mhire le tamall. An mbonn s ag troid le Sen mar is gnth? Cad
mar at Tiarnn? Chonaic m madadh a bh beagn cosil leis inn, agus bh m crite.
Braithim uaim sibh go lir, agus t m ag sil go mr leis na laethanta saoire.
Le gr,
Sle
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. An Aimsir Lithreach (The Present Tense)
In Irish, as in English, the present continuous (t m ag dul / I am going) has expanded at the
expense of the present tense (tim / I go), with the result that the use of the present tense has
become relatively restricted. It is used mainly in the following three contexts:
a) With verbs of sensation and perception, and verbs of opinion:
feicim
cluinim
braithim
motham
tuigim
slim
ceapaim
I see
I hear
I perceive, feel
I feel, sense
I understand
I think
I think
102
aontam
deirim
I agree
I say
b) For habitual activities:

irm go luath gach l.
tim abhaile ar a cig.
I get up early every day.

I go home at five.
c) For gnomic statements:

Danann sparn trom cro adrom.
Molann an obair an fear.
A heavy purse makes for a light heart.

The work praises its maker.
There are two conjugations of regular verbs in Irish.

1.1. An Chad Rimni / First Conjugation
We can divide the first conjugation into verbs with monosyllabic stems (1A) and those with
polysyllabic stems (1B/1C).
1A
bris `break' / glan `clean'
1B
sbhil `save'
1C
tiomin `drive.'
1.1A. Monosyllabic Stems
bris `break'
brisim
briseann t
briseann s/s
briseann muidU/ brisimid
briseann sibh
briseann siad
glan `clean'
glanaim
glanann t
glanann s/s
glanann muidU/ glanaimid
glanann sibh
glanann siad
Monosyllabic verbs ending in -igh have basically the same endings but show some fluctuation in
spelling and are best learned individually:
stem
digh
bigh
brigh
ligh
luigh
suigh
nigh
1sg
dim
bim
brim
lim
lum
sum
nm
3sg
dnn s
bnn s
brnn s
lann s
luonn s
suonn s
nonn s
1pl
dimid
bimid
brimid
limid
lumid
sumid
nmid
103
vn
ag d
ag b
ag br
ag lamh
ag lu
ag su
ag n
burn (tr)
drown (tr)
press
read
lie
sit
wash (tr)
1.1B. Polysyllabic Stems

Most polysyllabic verbs take the second conjugation, as we shall see, but some disyllabic verbs
take the first conjugation, including all verbs ending in -il (bcil `bake'; cniotil `knit'; liostil
`list'; marcil `mark'; priontil `print'; sbhil `save'; spril `save up, spare'; robil `rob'; vtil,
`vote'). First conjugation polysyllables are never syncopated; thus a disyllabic stem will have
a trisyllabic inflected form. Some of these polysyllabic stems are depalatalized and treated like a
broad stem.
Stems in -il:
sbhil
sbhlaim
sbhlann s
Other depalatalized stems:

taispein
taispenaim taispenann s
gearin
gearnaim
gearnann s
ciliir
ciliraim
cilirann s
ag sbhil
save
ag taispeint
ag gearn
ag ciliradh
show
complain
celebrate
Stems that preserve the stem's palatal inflection:

tiomin
tiominim
tiomineann s
ag tiomint
drive
Broad stems:
teagasc
teagascaim
teach
teagascann s
ag teagasc
1.2. An Dara Rimni / The Second Conjugation

1.2A. Stems in -(a)igh
The second conjugation contains polysyllabic verbs 31 only. The first and by far the largest group
of verbs end in -(a)igh (2A). In the inflected forms, the final consonant is lost so that the
inflected verb has the same number of syllables as the stem.
irigh `get up'
irm
ironn t
ironn s/s
ironn muidU/ irmid
ironn sibh
ironn siad
ceannaigh `buy'
ceannam
ceannaonn t
ceannaonn s/s
ceannaonn muidU/ ceannamid
ceannaonn sibh
ceannaonn siad
31
Usually disyllabic, but there are a handful of trisyllabic verbal stems, e.g. comhairligh `counsel' and dnmharaigh
`murder.'
104

Verbal stems ending in -in, -il, -ir and -is are in some (but not all) contexts syncopated, so that
the inflected form has the same number of syllables as the stem:
aithin
codail
foscail
freagair
imir
inis
labhair
mscail
aithnm
codlam
fosclam
freagram
imrm
insm
labhram
msclam
aithnonn s
codlaonn s
fosclaonn s
freagraonn s
imronn s
insonn s
labhraonn s
msclaonn s
ag aithint
ag codladh
ag foscladh
ag foscladh
ag imirt
ag insint / inseU
ag labhairt
ag mscil
recognize
sleep
openU
opening
play
tell
speak
wake
1.2C. Stems That Resist Syncopation

The remaining - very small - group of second conjugation verbs resist syncopation, so that a
disyllabic verbal stem will produce a trisyllabic inflected form:
foghlaim
tarraing
taistil
freastail
foghlaimm
tarraingm
taistealam
freastalam
foghlaimonn s
tarraingonn s
taistealaonn s
freastalaonn s
ag foghlaim
ag tarraingt
ag taisteal
ag freastal
learn
pull
travel
attend
1.3 The Irregular Verbs
Affirmative
feicim
danaim
tim
faighim
deirim
cluinim
tugaim
tagaim
beirim ar
ithim
Negative
n fheicim
n dhanaim
n thim
n fhaighim
n deirim
n chluinim
n thugaim
n thagaim
n bheirim ar
n ithim
Interrogative
an bhfeiceann t?
an ndanann t?
an dtann t?
an bhfaigheann t?
an deir t / an deireann t?
an gcluineann t?
an dtugann t?
an dtagann t?
an mbeireann t ar?
an itheann t?
105
see
do
go
get
say
hear
give
come
catch
eat
1.4. Negative and Interrogative

negative:
N cheannam milsein.
interrog.:
An gceannaonn t milsein?
neg. int.:
Nach gceannaonn s milsein?
I do not buy sweets.

Do you buy sweets?
Doesnt he buy sweets?
N irm go luath.
An ironn t32 go luath?
Nach n-ironn t go luath?
I don't get up early.

Do you get up early?
Don't you get up early?
Responses to questions are constructed by repeating the verb:

An dtuigeann t an lacht? Do you understand the lecture?
Tuigim. / N thuigim.
Yes. / No.
2. An Aimsir Ghnthlithreach (The Present Habitual)
The substantive verb has a special form used to express habitual action in the present:
bm
bonn t
bonn s/s
bonn muidU/ bmid
bonn sibh
bonn siad
I am habitually
you are habitually
he/she is habitually
we are habitually
you are habitually
they are habitually
negative:
interrogative:
neg. interrogative:
where:
n bhonn t
an mbonn t?
nach mbonn t?
c mbonn t?
Bonn s tinn go minic.
He is sick often.
3. An t-Am (Time)
a haon
a d
a tr
a ceathair
a cig
a s
a seacht
a hocht
a naoi
a deich
a haon dag
a d dhag
Cad an t-am / Cn t-am at s?

32
What time is it?
Note that the interrogative particle an does not prefix an `n' to a verb beginning with a vowel.
106
T s a haon a chlog.
T s a d a chlog.
T s leath i ndiadhU a tr.
T s ceathr go dtU a hocht.
leathuair, leathuair a chloig
ceathr, ceathr uair a chloig
bomaiteU
go dt
i ndiaidh
san oche
ar maidin
sa trthnna
ag men lae
ag men oche
Its one oclock.

Its two oclock.
Its half past three.
Its a quarter to eight.
half an hour
quarter of an hour
minute
to, until
after
at night
in the morning, a.m.
in the afternoon, p.m.
at midday
at midnight
Talking about Daily Activities

Cn t-am a ironn t ar maidin?
C huair a ironn t ar maidin?
Eirm de ghnth ar a hocht.
Ithim mo bhricfeasta ar a naoi.
What time do you get up in the morning?

What time do you get up in the morning?
I usually get up at eight.
I eat breakfast at nine.
1. Freagair na ceisteanna seo:

1. An ironn t go luath ar maidin?
2. An itheann t bricfeasta mr ar maidin?
3. An lann t tae n caife?
4. An nglacann t bainne n an lann t tae/caife dubh?
5. An isteann t leis an raidi ar maidin?
6. An silann t n an dtann t ar an bhus?
7. An lann t san oche?
8. An ndanann t do dhinnar fin?
9. An dtann t amach san oche?
10. An lann t fon n uisce beatha?
2. Obair Ranga: Agallamh le Raltg
T agallamh agat le raltg chailiil. Conduct an interview with your partner (the famous star)
along the lines of:
Bia
An itheann t: feoil
glasra bia mara (`seafood')?
107
bia Francach / Iodileach / Spinneach / Indiach / Sneach?

Deoch
An lann t:
Tobac
An gcaitheann t:
Ceol
An isteann t le:
uisce
leann dubh
fon
tae
uisce beatha
caife?
tobac
toitn
popa?
ceol traidisinta
snagcheol
San Oche
An dtann t go dt: an teach tbhairne
ceol clasaiceach?
popcheol
ceirtlis?
rac-cheol?
an amharclann an phictirlann?
3. Put the following sentences into the present tense, then turn them into questions, and give a
negative response:
1. Ghlan s an t-urlr.
2. Bhris an piste an fhuinneog.
3. Dfhan s liom.
4. Dfhoscail muid an litir.
5. Cheannaigh m uisce.
6. Chuaigh s abhaile.
7. Thinig Mire linn.
8. Thug m leabhar d.
9. Chuala s ceol.
10. Rinne m dearmad.
Obair Bhaile
1. I go to sleep at nine oclock every night.
2. She eats breakfast at five thirty every morning.
3. Do you take milk? No.
4. Do you understand his book? Yes.
5. He doesnt come here too often.
6. They buy vegetables here every day.
7. She runs two miles every day.
8. He studies all the time.
9. Do you play soccer? Yes.
10. Do you eat meat? No.
2. What do you do every day? Every weekend? Write a schedule of your activities.
3. Imagine youre an anthropologist doing field work on Mars. What are regular activities of the
locals?
108
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Seanfhocail
Danann neart ceart.
Might is right.
Danann sparn trom cro adrom.
A full purse makes for a light heart.
Molann an obair an fear.
The work praises its maker.
Aithnonn ciarg ciarg eile.
It takes one beetle to recognize another.
Giorraonn beirt bthar.
Company shortens the road.
Tarraingonn scal scal eile.
One story draws out another.
Bonn an fhrinne searbh.
Truth is bitter.
Bonn gach tosach lag.
Every beginning is weak.
Bonn silach scalach.
A traveller is full of tales.
Nuair a bhonn an braon istigh,

bonn an chiall amuigh.
When a drop has been taken,

sense goes out the door.
Tomhas
Cad a thann suas nuair a thagann an fhearthainn anuas?

What goes up when the rain comes down?
Rann do Phist
Gugala-gug, mo chircn dubh,
Suonn s sos is beireann s ubh:
Ubh inn is ubh inniu,
Gugala-gug mo chircn dubh.
(RR 4)
Gugala-gug, my little black hen,

Sits down and lays an egg:
One egg yesterday and one egg today,
Gugala-gug, my little black hen.
109
Rann: An t-Am `Telling Time'

Tic, toc an gcloiseann t m?
Is mise an clog, is seanchlog m.
Buailim a haon is buailim a d
N chloiseann t m chomh luath sa l.
Buailim a tr, a ceathair is a cig;
Muintir an t go fill i suan.
Buailim a s is buailim a seacht;
irigh a Ris, is ritigh an teach.
Buailim a hocht; t an bricfeasta ridh.
Sug sos is laga bhur gcuid tae.
Buailim a naoi go hard is go binn;
Bg ag triall ar scoil le bhur linn.
Buailim a deich is a haon dag a chlog;
Gach duine ag obair ag saothr a chuid.
Buailim a d dhag ag men lae
Filte an Aingil is abraig .
(CC #227)
Tick, tock, do you hear me?

I'm the clock I'm an old clock.
I strike one and I strike two
You don't hear me so early in the day.
I strike three, four and five
The household is still asleep.
I strike six and I strike seven;
Get up, Rose, and get the house in order.
I strike eight; breakfast is ready.
Sit down and drink your tea.
I strike nine, loud and melodious
Set out for school at this time.
I strike ten and I strike eleven
Everyone working earning a living.
I strike twelve at noon
for you to recite the Angelus.
110
11
CEACHT A HA ON DAG
FOCLIR
an samhradh seo chugainn
an mh seo chugainn
ar ais
bailigh, ag baili
cad at ann?U
a choche
crann Nollag
cuidigh le, ag cuidi le
daor
de dhth (ar dhuine)U
fiafraigh de, ag fiafra de
freagair, ag freagairt
dan gar dom
gan mhoill
glaoch (m)
go raibh mle maith agat
go raibh cad maith agatU
iarr, ag iarraidh
iarr (ar dhuine)
i gceann tamaill
i mbliana
in am
inis, ag insint
inteachtU
laethanta saoire
le danamh
nos dana
n dh
Nollaig (f)
(uaim, uait, uaidh,
uaithi, uainn, uaibh, uathu)
roimh (romham, romhat, roimh,
roimpi, romhainn, romhaibh, rompu)
sula
saoire (f)
tuillte
rscal (m)
next summer
next week
next month
back
collect
what is it?
ever, never (future events)
Christmas tree
help
expensive
needed (by someone)
ask
answer
do me a favor
soon
call
thank you very much
thank you very much
request, want
ask (someone)
in a while, later
this year
in time
tell
some
vacation
to do
later
or two
Christmas
from (from me, from you, etc)
before (before me, before you, etc)
before (used with verb)
holiday, vacation
earned
novel
111
CEACHT A HAON-DAG / LESSON ELEVEN
COMHR
I ndiaidh an ranga...
ine: Fan bomaite, a Mhirn, t rud inteacht agam duit. Nollaig shona duit!
Mirn: Go raibh mle maith agat.
ine: T filte romhat. N foscail do bhronntanas roimh an Nollaig!
Mirn: Ceart go leor, n fhosclidh! Agus seo bronntanas beag duitse.
ine: O, go raibh cad maith agat! (ag breith air) Hmm. Cad at ann?
Mirn: N darfaidh m leat sin! Caithfidh t fanacht!
ine: Ceart go leor, fanfaidh m! Go raibh maith agat ars.
Mirn: T filte romhat. Cad a dhanfaidh t ar na laethanta saoire?
ine: N dhanfaidh m rud ar bith. Rachaidh m abhaile agus fanfaidh m sa bhaile. Cuideoidh m
le mo thuismitheoir; beidh go leor le danamh againn sa teach gheobhaidh muid crann Nollag
agus danfaidh muid ccaireacht. Ach beidh saoire dheas agam osfaidh m bia maith, turca,
cca milis, lifidh m rscal n dh. N dhanfaidh me obair ar bith. Bainfidh m sult as sin.
Mirn: Bainfidh, cinnte. T saoire tuillte agat.
ine: O, an ndanfaidh t gar domh, a Mhirn?
Mirn: Danfaidh. Cad at de dhith ort?
ine: An bhfeicfidh t Pdraign sula n-imonn s?
Mirn: Feicfidh.
ine: An fidir leat a bronntanas a thabhairt di?
Mirn: Is fidir. Tabharfaidh m di anocht .
AN CEACHT GRAMADA
1. An Aimsir Fhistineach (The Future Tense)
The difference between the two conjugations is more marked in the future tense than in the
present.
1.1. First Conjugation Verbs
The future tense of first conjugation verbs is formed by adding the ending -f(a)idh to the stem:
cuir
cuirfidh m
I will put
cuirfidh t
you will put
cuirfidh s/s
he/she will put
cuirfidh muidU/cuirfimid we will put
cuirfidh sibh
you will put
cuirfidh siad
they will put
glac
glacfaidh m
I will take
glacfaidh t
you will take
glacfaidh s/s
he/she will take
glacfaidh muidU/glacfaimid we will take
glacfaidh sibh
you will take
glacfaidh siad
they will take
The `f' of the future tense stem is pronounced as an `h' in Ulster Irish ( Baoill 1996, 22), except
112
for the future of ch `see,' as in the frequently heard parting words:

Chfidh m t/th!
I'll be seeing you!
Monosyllabic verbs in -igh lose their stem ending before adding the future ending:
-faidh
digh `burn'
bigh `drown'
brigh `press'
buaigh `win'
dfaidh
bfaidh
brfaidh
buafaidh
-fidh
ligh `read'
nigh `wash'
luigh `lie'
suigh `sit'
lifidh
nfidh
lufidh
sufidh
1.1B. Polysyllabic Stems

Polysyllabic stems tend to be de-palatalized and take a broad -faidh, but there are exceptions:
-faidh
taispein `show'
ceiliir `celebrate'
sbhil `save'
vtil `vote'
taispenfaidh
ceilirfaidh
sbhlfaidh
vtlfaidh
-fidh
tiomin `drive' tiominfidh
1.2. Second Conjugation Verbs

The future tense of second-conjugation verbs is formed by adding the ending -idh / -eoidh to
broad / slender stems respectively.
1.2A. Most second-conjugation verbs end in -(a)igh, an ending which is lost in the future tense:
ceannaigh
ceannidh m
ceannidh t
ceannidh s/s
ceannimid
ceannidh sibh
ceannidh siad
I will buy
you will buy
he/she will buy
we will buy
you will buy
they will buy
imigh
imeoidh m
imeoidh t
imeoidh s/s
imeoimid
imeoidh sibh
imeoidh siad
113
I will leave
you will leave
he/she will leave
we will leave
you will leave
they will leave

Other second-conjugation verbs add the future ending to the stem. Often the stem is syncopated
in the process, so that the inflected form has the same number of syllables as the stem:
-idh
codail `sleep'
foscailU òpen'
freagair ànswer'
labhair `talk'
mscail `wake'
codlidh
fosclidh
freagridh
labhridh
msclidh
-eoidh
imir `play'
inis `tell'
imreoidh
inseoidh
1.2C. Stems that Resist Syncopation

Some few second-conjugation verbs resist syncopation, so that a disyllabic stem will produce a
trisyllabic inflected form:
-idh
freastail àttend'
taistil `travel'
freastalidh
taistealidh
-eoidh
foghlaim `learn'
tarraing `pull'
foghlaimeoidh
tarraingeoidh
In Ulster Irish, the second conjugation future ending is disyllabic (see Baoill 1996, 24). It is
pronounced as if it were written:
ceannchaidh m, t, s, s, muid, sibh, siad [k'aohi]
imeochaidh m, t, s, s, muid, sibh, siad [im'ohi]
Negative:
Interrogative:
Neg. int.:
Before:
n (causes simhi)
an (causes ur)
nach (causes ur)
sula (causes ur)
Sampla
Cuirfidh m an cupn ansin.
Freagridh s gan mhoill.
N thgfaidh s teach sa bhaile seo.
N chodlidh s anseo.
An nglanfaidh s an teach?
An ireoidh t ag a seacht amrach?
Nach gceannidh t bronntanas d?
33
n chuirfidh m
an lfaidh t33
nach nglacfaidh t
sula n-imeoidh m
I will put the cup there.
He will answer soon.
He will not build a house in this town.
He won't sleep here.
Will he clean the house?
Will you get up at seven tomorrow?
Won't you buy a present for him?
As in the present tense, the interrogative particle does not prefix `n' to verbs beginning with a vowel.
114
1.3. The Irregular Verbs

The irregular verbs have the following future tense forms:
Affirmative
beidh
feicfidh
cluinfidh
danfaidh
tabharfaidh
tiocfaidh
barfaidh
gheobhaidh
osfaidh
darfaidh
rachaidh
Negative
n bheidh
n fheicfidh
n chluinfidh
n dhanfaidh
n thabharfaidh
n thiocfaidh
n bharfaidh
n bhfaighidh
n osfaidh
n darfaidh
n rachaidh
Interrogative
an mbeidh
an bhfeicfidh
an gcluinfidh
an ndanfaidh
an dtabharfaidh
an dtiocfaidh
an mbarfaidh
an bhfaighidh
an osfaidh
an ndarfaidh
an rachaidh
be
see
hear
do
give
come
catch, hold
get, find
eat
say
go
2. The Prepositions and roimh and their Prepositional Pronouns
`from'
ROIMH `before'
uaim
uait
uaidh
uaithi
uainn
uaibh
uathu
romham
romhat
roimh
roimpi
romhainn
romhaibh
rompu
from me
from you
from him
from her
from us
from you
from them
1. Future Tense, First Conjugation
Cuir Gaeilge air seo:
1. I will write a letter.
2. She will close the door.
3. You will take a drink, won't you?
4. Will you put the milk here?
115
before me
before you
before him
before her
before us
before you
before them
5. He won't wait for her.

6. She will sweep the floor.
7. I will enjoy the night.
8. Won't they drink milk?
9. We will listen to him.
10. I shall run to the shop.
2. Future Tense, Second Conjugation
Cuir Gaeilge air seo:
1. She will finish her homework now.
2. We will sleep well tonight.
3. I will open the window.
4. Will he answer my question?
5. Shall we tell him the good news?
6. He will not leave his daughter.
7. He will collect stories. (scalta)
8. The children will not play together.
9. Will you buy a coat there?
10. I will help the woman of the house. (bean an t)
1. I will go home later.
2. Will they eat meat? I don't know.
3. I'll see you tomorrow!
4. They won't see you.
5. Will you finish it in time? No.
6. She'll get a great job.
7. I'll get up at five o'clock tomorrow morning, but I won't do anything until nine.
8. Won't they come back tomorrow? No, they'll never come back.
9. Will he listen to me? Yes.
10. I won't buy anything there. It's too expensive.
11. He won't get a call from me today!
4. Plan your winter holidays. What will you do? What presents will you give to your friends and
family? Where will you travel? When will you return?
5. You are planning a three-day fieldtrip. Write out a detailed plan for the participants, listing
speakers and their transportation, speaking times, accommodation, meals, and entertainment.
Write out your plans using the future tense.
116
TEANGA IS C ULTR
Casfhocal `Tongue Twister'
N thuigfidh mise fear as Toraigh
is n thuigfidh fear as Toraigh m.
I won't understand a man from Tory (Island),

and a man from Tory won't understand me.
Seanfhocail
Mol an ige agus tiocfaidh s.
Praise the young and they will get there.
Barfaidh b igin lao igin l igin.
Some cow will have some calf some day.
Cuidigh fin leat is cuideoidh Dia leat!
Help yourself and God will help you!
Nollaig agus an Bhliain r (Christmas and New Year)

Modern western Christmas customs are observed in Ireland today, including Christmas tree,
Christmas cards and presents, and British-style Christmas dinner, with its obligatory turkey,
brussel sprouts and Christmas crackers. Introduced from Britain, these customs are, however, of
relatively recent vintage in Ireland. The older layer of native custom described below, which it has
to some extent at least replaced, is more likely to reflect common medieval European tradition.
The Holy Family, Mary, Joseph, and Jesus, were believed to walk about on earth on
Christmas Eve, and a candle was lit in every window, often by the youngest child, to show the
wanderers that they were welcome there:
Bonn soilse ar lasadh in gach aon fhuinneog in gach tigh Oche Nollag, Oche Lae
Nollag, Oche Choille, Oche Lae Choille, Oche Nollag Beag, agus Oche Lae
Nollag Beag, ar fud na bparisteacha timpeall. Le honir d'r Slnaitheoir at gach
inne dhanamh. Bonn suipar maith agus dinnar maith L Nollag mar onir d
leis. (LSC, 354f)
Lights burn in every window in every house on Christmas Eve, the night of
Christmas Day, New Year's Eve, the night of New Year's Day, Little Christmas
Eve, the night of Little Christmas Day in all the parishes round about. It is in
honour of Our Saviour that everyone does it. It is in honour of him too that there is
a good supper and a good dinner on Christmas Day and Christmas Eve. (SOCB,
319)
This folk belief is also reflected in literature, as in Mirtn Direin's poem Cuireadh do Mhuire
Ìnvitation to Mary,' and in Mire Mhac an tSaoi's Oche Nollag:
117
Fgaidh an doras ar leathadh ina coinne,

An Mhaighdean a thiocfaidh is a naoi ar a hucht [...]
Lufidh Mac D ins an tigh34 seo anocht.
Leave the door ajar for them
Our Lady who will come with her baby in her arms [...]
The Son of God will sleep in this house tonight.
In a shortstory by Pdraig Pearse, St Mary is offerred hospitality by a childless couple and in
return grants her hostess's request for a child.
Animals, too, were thought to feel the divine presence: at midnight on Christmas Eve the
animals have the power of human speech, and ox and ass are said to go down on their knees in
reverence. On the Eve of Epiphany (6th of January; in some areas called `little Christmas,'
Nollaig Bheag), water was said to turn to wine, rushes to silk, and gravel to gold, in memory not
only of the three Magi, but also of the Wedding at Cana, which was thought to have taken place
on that day (SOCB, 318).
Decorating the house with holly is also traditional, whether it is native or a reflection of
English custom. Christmas mumming in Ireland is demonstrably of English origin. It is found in
those areas in which English influence goes back longest, in the area around Dublin referred to as
`the Pale', in Wexford, and in the Northeastern counties. Although it is well-established in those
areas, and the English cast of characters has received some Irish additions (in some areas St
Patrick beats his rival St George), it never was part of Irish-language tradition.
Gaelic tradition did, however, have its own version of Christmas disguise and procession:
On St Stephen's Day (December 26th), the wrenboys (lucht an dreoiln) went from house to
house, dressed up and carrying a live or dead wren, and reciting poetry and collecting gifts:
mhaidean go trthnna bonn lucht a dreiln ag imeacht thig go tig, a's a
dreiln marabh acu ar bharra cleithe, agus craobh ghlas agus ribn tmpal air. A'
baili airigid a bhonn lucht a' dreoiln. A' dul isteach sa tig dibh, abaraid siad
rcn an dreiln, agus nuair a bhonn s rit' aca, agus bhar facht35 aca, bailonn
siad le ansan.36 (LSC 355)
From morning to evening the wrenboys go from house to house, with a dead wren
on top of a staff, which has a green branch and ribbons around it. Collecting
money is what the wrenboys do. When they enter the house they say the rime of the
wren, and when they have said it, and got something, they go off again. (SOCB,
319)
34
= teach. The oblique case form tigh (= the dative form) has taken the place of the nominative in Munster Irish.
= faighte, `gotten'.
36
Duilearga's spelling attempts to represent Munster dialect closely; the passage contains many divergences from
modern standard orthography.
35
118
Here is a typical wrenboy rhyme:

Dreoiln, dreoiln, r na n-an
L Fhile Stiofin a ceapadh m.
irigh suas, a bhean an t
Caith an donacht as do chro
Agus tabhair cpla pingin don dreoiln. (CC #262a)
Wren, wren, king of the birds
On St Stephen's Day I was trapped
Get up, Woman of the House
Banish evil from your heart
And give a couple of pence to the wren.
As at Halloween and St Brigid's Day, the ritual and disguise accommodated and sanctioned noisy
and unruly behaviour, especially if the procession included a hobby-horse, the lir bhn. The
one-sided drum now ubiquitously associated with the traditional music seisin, the bodhrn, was
originally only associated with the wrenboy procession (Danaher 1977, 127). Some of the wren
rhymes are quite aggressive:
Dreoiln, dreoiln, cois chla an chloch
Chaith me mo mhaide leis, bhris m a chos.
irigh i do shu, a bhean an t,
Agus tabhair dinn deoch
N sfaidh m an dreoiln siar i do chorp! (LSC 355)
The wren, the wren, at the foot of the stone wall
I threw my stick at him, I broke his leg.
Get up, woman of the house,
And give us a drink,
Or I will stuff the wren down your throat! (SOCB, 319)
New Year's, called L Coille (from Latin `Calends Day') or L Cinn Bhliana `Day of the Year's
End' was a comparatively minor holiday. The custom of persuading one's neighbours to have a
drink, though much less widespread than in Gaelic Scotland, is also attested in Ireland (SOCB,
318). The formula Go mbeirimid beo ar an am seo ars `May we be alive this time next year' was
said on New Year's Eve. As on Christmas Day itself, everyone, even the poorest members of the
community, were supposed to get a good meal:
Tugtar Oche na Coda Mire ar Oche Choille. Siud an focal a bhonn ar sil ag na
daoine an oche sin:
`Corcn mr go mbuailimid sos
Go n-ithimid r ndthain
119
Agus is cuma c dholfaidh!'

An t n hosfadh a dhthain an oche sin, n osfadh s go ceann bliana eile .
(LSC, 353)
Oche Choille is called `the Night of the Big Meal.' This is the saying the people
have about that night:
À big pot let us put down
That we may eat our fill
No matter who pays for it!'
Whoever did not eat his fill that night, would not eat it for another year. (SOCB,
318)
Dn: Cuireadh do Mhuire Ìnvitation to Mary'
le Mirtn Dreain (as Dnta Aniar, 1943)
Nollaig 1942
An eol duit, a Mhuire,
C rachair i mbliana
Ag iarradh foscaidh
Do do Leanbh Naofa
Trth a bhfuil gach doras
Dnta ina adan
Ag fuath is uabhar
An chine dhaonna?
Do you know, Mary,

Where you will go this year
Looking for shelter
For your holy child
When every door
Is closed in His face
By the hate and the pride
Of the human race?
Deonaigh glacadh
Le cuireadh uaimse
Go hoilen mara
San Iarthar cianda:
Beidh coinnle geala
I ngach fuinneog lasta
Is tine mhna
Ar theallach adhainte.
Deign to accept
My invitation
To an island in the sea
In the remote West:
Bright candles
Will shine in every window
And a turf fire
On the hearth.
120
Amhrin Nollag
Oche Chiin `Silent Night'
Oche chiin, oche mhic D
Cch ina suan, ds araon,
Ds is dlse ag faire le spis
Naon beag gnaoigheal
ceananntais caomh
Crost ina chodladh go simh
Crost ina chodladh go simh.
Silent Night, night of God's son

Everyone's asleep, except for one couple
The most faithful couple watching with
affection
Over a small beautiful dear fair child:
Christ, calmly asleep
Christ, calmly asleep.
Oche chiin, oche mhic D

Aoir ar dts chuala an scal
Allelia aingeal ag glaoch
Cantain suairc i ngar is i gcin
Crost an slnaitheoir fin
Crost an slnaitheoir fin.
Silent night, night of God's son.

Shepherds first heard the tale
The angels' calling `Halleluya'
Lovely chanting near and far.
Christ the saviour himself
Christ the saviour himself.
Carl na Nollag À Christmas Carol'

Dia do bheatha a Na anocht
A rugadh insa stbla bocht
Go ciin gan chaoi i do luascadh a lu
T do mhithrn le do thaobhsa.
God be with you tonight, little one

Who was born in the poor stable
Your mother's by your side, rocking you
quietly to sleep without tears.
Anseo ina lu sa mhainsirn

I gcr chng an asailn
Gean is gr Bheithiln
Ag cur sochin i gcro gach inne.
Lying here in the little manger

In the donkey's narrow shed
Affection and love from Bethlehem
Is putting peace in everyone's heart.
Na haingle insna Flaithis thuas

Na haoir ag triall shliabh anuas
Ag neosadh dinn gur rugadh Crost
Ag tabhairt firn uainn go lir dhuit.
The angels in heaven above

The shepherds coming down the hill
Telling us that Christ is born
And gringing gifts from us all.
Dia do bheatha a Na anocht

A rugadh insa stbla bocht
Go ciin gan chaoi i do luascadh a lu
T do mhithrn le do thaobhsa.
God be with you tonight, little one

Who was born in the poor stable
Your mother's by your side, rocking you
quietly to sleep without tears.
121
Beannachta na Nollag Christmas Greetings

Nollaig shona duit
Nollaig mhaith chugat
Nollaig faoi shan is faoi shonas duit
Beannachta na Nollag / na hAthbhliana
Athbhliain faoi mhaise duit
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas
A prosperous and happy Christmas to you
Christmas / New Year's Greetings
Happy New Year
Foclirn Beag na Nollag

crann Nollag
coinneal, pl coinnle
lampa draochta
crta Nollag
siopadireacht na Nollag
bronntanas
Aifreann na Nollag
ag dul chuig an aifreann
minsar
pleascga Nollag
hata pipir
Dada na Nollag / San Niocls
Dinnar L Nollag
cilis
bachlga Bhruisile
tornapa
turca
toirtn ll
traidhfil
cste Nollag, marg Nollag
uisce beatha
Christmas tree
candle
tree lights (`magic lamps')
Christmas cards
Christmas shopping
present
Christmas mass, midnight mass
going to mass
crche (belen)
Christmas crackers
paper hats
Father Christmas / Santa Claus
Christmas Dinner
cauliflower
Brussels sprouts
turnip
turkey
apple pie
trifle
British style Christmas pudding
whisky
122
SIL SIAR (REVISION ): CEACHT 8 CEACHT 11

tell first one person, then two, to listen, to clean the house, to get up, to leave, to buy coffee, to
open the door, to speak Irish, to sit down, to be quiet, to come here, and to go there (8.1).
now tell them NOT to do any of the above-mentioned (8.1).
address the following people: Cit, Donncha, Pdraign, Sen, Samus, Mire (8.2).
know at least six different terms of endearment to address your true love (8.2.1).
say `give me a kiss, NN [insert personal name], love of my heart' (8.2.1).
address a letter to NN conveying similar sentiments, and closing with appropriate greetings
(8.2.3).
say `to me, to you, to him, to her, to us, to you, to them' (8.3).
say `from me, from you, from him, from her, from us, from you, from them' (8.3).
say `give me the book'; `take off your hat'; `put on your coat'; `buy me an ice cream'; `tell me' to
first one person, then two (8.1/8.3)
tell first one person, then two, to come in; go out; go downstairs; come upstairs; sit down and
get up again (8.4).
say Ì got up, I washed myself, I put on my trousers, I ate my breakfast, I ran outside, I got the
bus, I went to university, I came into the classroom, I sat down, I listened to the teacher, I fell
asleep (9.1).
now say that you didn't do any of the above (9.1).
now ask Sle whether she did any of the above yesterday (9.1).
say the numbers from 1-10 (9.2).
say `1 + 1 = 2; 8 - 2 = 6' (9.1.1).
say your telephone number (9.1.2).
count Fionn Mac Cumhaill's 10 cats (one cat, two cats, three cats etc; 9.2.2)
say that you went to a concert; to the doctor; to your sister's; to Dublin; to Alaska; to France; to
the library (9.3).
say what you do every day (10.1).
ask Sen whether he does any of these things; as it turns out, he doesn't: report what he doesn't
do (10.1.3).
say Ì am (habitually), you are (habitually), he is (habitually), etc (10.2).
say what time it is (10.3).
describe what you will do tomorrow.
say Ì will clean; I will drink; I will buy; I will leave; I will sleep' (11.1).
say that you will not, in fact, do the above (11.1).
say `from me, from you, from him, from her, from us, from you, from them' (11.2).
123
APPENDIX 1
CRSA CANNA
1
U LSTER IRISH
M UNSTER AND/ OR CONNACHT IRISH
bocsa
bosca
box
cad (also spelt caid, goid)
cad
what
fosta
freisin
also
muidinne
sinne
we/us (emphatic form)
ruball
eireaball
tail
tbla
bord
table
The Copula
In some dialects of Ulster Irish, the distinctive negative form cha/chan is used rather than n, not
only in the context of the copula, but as the negative particle with any verb. Cha/chan is the
regular negative form in Scottish Gaelic, and its occurence in Ulster Irish has sparked a scholarly
controversy; should we regard the use of cha in Ulster Irish as a relatively recent import from
Scotland, as T. F. O'Rahilly claimed in Irish Dialects Past and Present, or as a native
development from Old Irish nicon, parallel to its development in Scottish Gaelic?37
Examples of cha/chan as negative copula:
Chan geal at s ach liath.
Cha m(h)aith liom .
It is not white but gray.

I dont like it.
2
U LSTER IRISH M UNSTER AND/ OR CONNACHT IRISH
madadh
madra
37
dog
I am grateful to Bettina Kimpton for her research on the issue of cha versus n. See T.F. O Rahilly, Irish
Dialects Past and Present (Dublin 1932); Heinrich Wagner, Linguistic Atlas and Survey of Irish Dialects (Dublin,
1958-69) and Iarfhocal ar N agus Cha sa Ghaeilge, Filscrbhinn Thomis de Bhaldraithe, ed. S. Watson
(Dublin 1986), 1-10; Breandn Buachalla, Nota ar Ghaeilge an Tuaiscirt, igse 16 (1976), 285-315, and N
and Cha in Ulster Irish, riu 28 (1977), 92-141; Cathair Dochartaigh, Cha and N in the Irish of Ulster, igse
16 (1976), 317-36; A.J. Hughes, Gaeilge Uladh, in Stair na Gaeilge, ed. K. McCone et al (1994), 614-18, and
Ulster Irish Char as a reflex of Old Irish Nicon Ro rather than a Scottish Import, in Miscellanea Celtica in
Memoriam Heinrich Wagner, ed. S. Mac Mathna and A. Corrin (Uppsala 1997).
124
The Prepositional Pronoun of le

A number of the prepositional pronouns have slightly different forms in Donegal Irish; the 3 sg f
and 3 plu in particular tend to have a different form:
3 sg f
lithe
= li
with her
3 plu
leo and leofa
= leo
with them
3
Identification Copula
In the context of the copula, the phenomenon of the proleptic (i.e. anticipatory) or the echoing
pronoun is a relatively innovative feature in Irish, and there is some dialect variation in its use. In
Donegal Irish, the pronoun tends to be used more sparingly than elsewhere; e.g. it is not used
with the demonstrative pronouns sin and seo:
Seo an peann.
Seo an peann.
Sin an fear.
Sin an fear.
4
There is much variation between dialects in their use of interrogative pronouns, as illustrated e.g.
by the interrogatives `what' and `how':
cad / caid
cad
cad mar
cn chaoi / conas
what
how
Dialectal variation is therefore particularly noticeable in interrogative idioms. Thus `how are
you?' is expressed as cad mar at t? in Donegal Irish, cn chaoi bhfuil t? in Connemara, and
conas at t? in Kerry. If you ask for someone's name you say cainm at ort? / Cad an t-ainm
at ort? in Donegal; elsewhere, you will hear cad is ainm duit?
In some cases, semantic dialect variation is more a question of preference rather than exclusive
use. Thus, in Donegal Irish, gairid is the preferred word for `short', rather than gearr, and doiligh
rather than deacair is used for `difficult.'
The Substantive Verb
In some Ulster dialects, nl can be expressed as chan fhuil:
An bhfuil t tinn? - Chan fhuil.
Are you sick? - No.
125
CRSA CANNA: N OTES ON DIALECT VARIATION

In some areas in which cha is less commonly used, eg. SW Donegal, chan fhuil can express an
emphatic negative response:
Nl t tinn, an bhfuil? - O, chan fhuil.
You aren't sick, are you? - No, I'm not.
The Particle go
In Donegal Irish, the particle go is used much less often in this context, in Connacht and Munster
it is obligatory:
T s deas.
It is nice.
T s go deas.
It is nice.
5
druidte
dnta
foscailte
oscailte
ag cluinstin
ag cloisteil /ag cluinstin
closed
open
hearing
Cluinstin (which is also found elsewhere in Irieland) is used in Ulster rather than cloisteil. Note
that amharc is pronounced [ank] in some parts of western Donegal; elsewhere it is pronounced
[ork].
6
cad chuige
cn fth
'achan (gach aon)
chuile (gach uile)
why
every
The Substantive Verb

In areas where the negative particle cha is used rather than n, the negative of the past tense of the
substantive verb is cha raibh:
An raibh t ann arir? - Cha raibh.
Where you there last night? - No.
Initial Mutations of the Noun in the Dative Case

In Ulster Irish, all prepositions followed by the definite article cause lenition of the noun in the
dative. This represents a drastic simplification of a historically complex situation, and the
southern dialects preserve some of this historical complexity. In Connacht Irish, prepositions
followed by the article cause eclipsis, except do and de, which cause lenition. The situation in
126

Munster Irish is similar, with most prepositions causing eclipsis, and the prepositions do, de,
and sa causing lenition.
7
The Zero Copula and the Prepositional Pronoun i
Note that the alternative copula construction fear deas at ann (rather than is fear deas ) has
become the preferred way of expressing a classification sentence and is extremely common:
L deas at ann.
Minteoir at ionam.
Nice day today.

I'm a teacher.
8
balta
in ann
druid, ag drud
dn, ag dnadh
foscail, ag foscladh
oscail, ag oscailt
ag tuigbheil
ag tuiscint
goitse (gabh anseo)
tar anseo
able
close
open
understand
come here
The Prepositional Pronouns of de and do

In Connacht and Munster Irish, the distinction between the pronominal forms of the
prepositions do and de is strictly maintained. In some dialects of Donegal Irish, particularly
South Donegal (Teelin) it is also maintained; Hughes gives the following forms for de (1994, 658):
Sg 1 dom
dom
2 dod
dot
3m de
de
3f dthe
di
Pl 1 dnn
dnn
2 d(h)bh
dbh
3 dofa
dobh
Note the following Donegal forms of do (Hughes 1994, 658; Baoill 1996, 95):
Sg 1 domh and dom dom
to me
3f daoithe
di
to her
Pl 3 daofa, dfa
dibh
to them
9
127

ar digh
barraocht
ar fheabhas
an iomarca
great, excellent
too much
Cha and the Past Tense Verb

In the past tense, the negative particle cha becomes char:
char chrochnaigh m
I didnt finish
char sheinn s
He didnt play (a musical instrument)
char ith m
I didnt eat
The Past Tense: Irregular Verbs
The following variant forms of the irregular verbs are found in Ulster Irish:
an/ar
n/nor
cha(r)
dan `do':
an dtearn
n thearn
cha dtearn
tabhair `give':
an dtug
n thug
cha dtug
tar `come':
an dtinig
n thinig
cha dtinig
tigh `go':
an dteachaigh
n theachaigh
cha dteachaigh
abair `say'
ar dhirt
nor dhirt
char dhirt
feic `see':
an bhfaca
n fhaca
chan fhaca
cluin `hear':
ar chuala
nor chuala
char chuala
faigh `get':
an bhfuair
n bhfuair
chan fhuair
The Prepositional Pronoun of chuig
The preposition chuig `to' is pronounced [uig] or [eig]; in the pronominal forms, the initial `ch' is
reduced to a [h], and the medial `g' is often elided in the 1 and 2 sg (Hughes 1994, 658):
Sg
Pl
1 hogem / hu:m
hogiN
2 hogad / hu:d
hogif
3 heg'e
hoku
he'ki
10
Telling the Time
U LSTER IRISH
bomaite
nimad
i ndiaidh
tar is
t s tr bhomaite i ndiaidh a d
t s tr nimad tar is a d
go dt
chun
t s tr bhomaite go dt a d
t s tr nimad chun a d
Cha and the Present Tense Verb
cha bhonn s
He isnt (habitually)
chan fheicim
I dont see
128
minute
after
it's 2.03
to
it's 1.57

cha chluineann s
He doesnt hear
11
chfidh m th [t'ifi]
inteacht
t s de dhth orm
feicfidh m th
igin
t s uaim
see you later

some, a certain
I need it
The Future Tense

In Ulster Irish, the `f' in the future tense ending -f(a)idh is regularly pronounced [h], except in
Teelin (On the development -f- -> [h] see O'Rahilly Irish Dialects Past and Present (1932, 222),
Buachalla `The f-future in Modern Irish: a re-assessment,' Proceedings of the Royal Irish
Academy 85 C (1985, 1-36), Dochartaigh Dialects of Ulster Irish (1987, 166-8) and Hughes
`Gaeilge Uladh' (1994, 644). A notable exception is the idiom chfidh m t(h), where it is
generally pronounced [f] (Hughes 1994, 644 and Baoill 1996, 47). The situation in other
dialects is more complex; the `f' is generally pronounced [f] in Munster Irish; it is sometimes
pronounced [f] in Connacht.
In dialects of Ulster Irish where cha is used, the negative future is expressed by cha plus the
present tense:
chan fheicim
I will not see.
cha dtid s
He will not go.
The Prepositional Pronouns of and roimh
The 3 plu of the preposition has the -fa ending we are familiar with from leofa and daofa:
uafa
uathu
from them
In the 3 sg f and 3 plu of the preposition roimh, the `m' is dropped in Donegal Irish:
3 sg f
roipi (also rithe)
roimpi
before her
3 plu
ropu
rompu
before them
Further Reading on Ulster Irish

Hughes, Art. 1994. Gaeilge Uladh, in Stair na Gaeilge, ed. Kim McCone et al, 611-660.
Mac Congil, Nollaig. 1983. Scrbhneoir Thr Chonaill.
Mac Maolin, Sen. 1992. Cora Cainte as Tr Chonaill. Baile tha Cliath.
Baoill, Dnall. 1996. An Teanga Bheo: Gaeilge Uladh (Institiid Teangeolaochta ireann).
129

Corrin, A. 1989. A Concordance of Idiomatic Expressions in the Writings of Seamus
Grianna. Belfast.
Dochartaigh, Cathair. 1987. Dialects of Ulster Irish. Belfast.
Grianna, Samus [`Mire']. 1976. Caislein ir. Baile tha Cliath. [available on tape, read by
ine Nic Giolla Bhrde, Raidi na Gaeltachta, as part of the Focal ar Fhocal series; a study guide
by Pl de Bhl, Caislein ir (Nta) helps with the idioms.]
Searcaigh, Cathal. 1993. An Bealach 'na Bhaile / Homecoming. Cl Iar-Chonnachta [a selection
from the work can be found on a cassette of the same title, issued by Cl Iar-Chonnachta in
1991].
130
APPENDIX 2
PHONETIC EXERCISES (D ONEGAL IRISH )
Vowels
a
teach
fear
aisteach
a:
Sen
nos fearr
ama
eile
seic
meigeall
:
Samus
brag
far
i
sin
fios
cistin
house
man
strange
madadh
tamall
mac
dog
while
son
John
better
time (Gen.)
:
t
barr
tharla
is
top
happened
other
check
goatee
e
D
beir
te
day
catch
hot
James
lie
grass
e:
ire
s
maighdean
Ireland
he
maiden
that
knowledge
kitchen
i:
mn
naoi
Sle
smooth
nine
Sheila
131
PHONETIC EXERCISES
o
doras
ocht
ocras
door
eight
hunger
o:
srn
comhr
leabhar
bthar
nose
conversation
book
road
[:
r
go deo
ag l
gold
forever
drinking
]
muc
thug
cur
pig
gave
putting
u
guth
briseadh
gasr
voice
breaking
boy
u:
c
dar
scrd
hound
author
exam
Diphthongs
ia
Dia
siad
liath
God
they
grey
ua
suas
up
132
PHONETIC EXERCISES
trua
fuar
pity
cold
au
Eabhrais
cadhla
cabhsa path
Hebrew
coil, rope
Consonants
p
Pdraig
pg
stop
cupa
p'
posa
corp
cipn
Patrick
kiss
stop, stay
cup
b
bire
bos
gob
i bpirc
match, contest
palm of hand
beak, mouth
in a field
m
Mire
am
i mbrg
Mary
time
in a shoe
b'
bic
scream
bris
break
ribe
hair of strand
i bpian in pain
t
t
alt
cat
f
fan
wait!
phs
married
scrofa written
w
a Mhire
bhuail
an bhfuil?
piece
body
matches
o Mary
hit
is there?
133
is
article
cat
PHONETIC EXERCISES
m'
mire
imirt
im
i mbrste
merriment
playing
butter
in trousers
f'
fear
feoil
feic
caife
man
meat
see!
coffee
v'
bh
an bhfeiceann t?
bhris
seilbh
t'
te
caint
ite
d
do
ard
fada
an dtugann
n
nta
nire
canna
rann
was
do you see?
broke
property
hot
talk
eaten
to, for
high
long
do (you) take?
d'
deas
in airde
sid
an dtann?
nice
up high
blow
do (you) go?
note
shame
can
poem
n'
mo nire
ceannach
bean
anuraidh
my shame
buying
woman
last year
h
thuas
mhothaigh
shsaigh
up above
sensed
satisfied
neamart
neglect
inn
yesterday
roinn
department
an ndanfaidh?will (you) do?
134
PHONETIC EXERCISES
sheas
stood
dh
mo dhorn
dhruid
sa ghluaisten
two
my fist
closed
in the car
k
carr
mac
acu
car
son
at them
'
sin
gloine
nigh m
that
glass
I washed
y
gheall
mo dheirfir
faoi gheasa
rghlic
promised
my sister
under a spell
too smart
k'
ceol
ciin
minic
cic
music
quiet
often
kick
ng
rang
i ngluaisten
i ngan fhios
an ngoideann
class
in a car
in ignorance
do (you) steal?
135
x
chuala
mo chta
amach
a chara
heard
my coat
out
o friend
ng'
rince
in greim
i ngleann
inghreimim
dancing
in the grip
in a glen
I persecute
x'
chor
chlis
cluiche
an cheist
combed
jumped, started
game
the question
PHONETIC EXERCISES
s
sonas
su
suas
gasr
happiness
sitting
up
boy
l
l
urlr
calln
geall
day
floor
noise, clamour
promise
L (l')
caill
cailleach
lose
old woman
r
rud
carr
seomra
rith
thing
car
room
run
g
gasta
snag
ar gcara
quick
a catch, halt
our friend
s'
sn
leis
briseadh
stretch out!
with him
breaking
lenited l
mo l
labhair m
my day
I talked
mla
geal
bag
bright
lenited L (l')
ligh m
I read
ball
member
cailn
girl
136
r'
Mire
obair
uimhir
Doire
Mary
work
number
Derry
g'
g
aige
lig
i gceann
goose
at him
let
in a head
BIBLIOGRAPHY
An Gm. 1994. Foclir Scoile. Baile tha Cliath.
The Christian Brothers. 1980. New Irish Grammar. Dublin.
Comhar na Minteoir Gaeilge. 1999. Teanga Bheo. Baile tha Cliath. Collection of poetry
accompanied by audio cassettes [Teanga Bheo].
Cussen, Cliodna. 1987. Inniu an Luan: Rainn Bheaga n mBaloideas. Coiscim.
Danaher, Kevin. 1977. `Calendar Customs and Festival Practices in Ireland', Literature and
Folk Culture: Ireland and Newfoundland, ed. A. Feder and B. Schrank. St John's,
Newfoundland, 111-128.
de Bhaldraithe, Toms. 1959. English - Irish Dictionary. Dublin.
Hughes, Art. 1994. Gaeilge Uladh, in Stair na Gaeilge, ed. Kim McCone et al, 611-660.
Mac Dhonnagin, Tadhg. 2004. Imonn an tAm: Rogha Amhrn (CD). An Spidal.
Mac Gabhann, Risteard. 1991. Crsa Closamhairc Gaeilge. Belfast. [Crsa Closamhairc]
N Uallachin, Pdraign, and Garry Briain. 1994. A Str is a Stirn. Bile Atha Cliath
[booklet and tape set].
Baoill, Dnall. 1996. An Teanga Bheo: Gaeilge Uladh. Institiid Teangeolaochta ireann.
Cathasaigh, Roibeard, et al. 1998. Rabhla Rabhla: Rogha Rannta Traidisinta don Aos
g (book and CD). Baile tha Cliath. [RR]
Dochartaigh, Cathair. 1987. Dialects of Ulster Irish. Belfast.
Dnaill, Niall, ed. 1977. Foclir Gaeilge - Barla. Dublin.
Duilearga, Samas. 1977. Leabhar Shein U Chonaill. Dublin (=Sen Conaill's Book,
tr. Mire MacNeill, Dublin 1981). [LSIC]
Murch, Helen and Mirtn. 1999. Irish: Facing the Future / An Ghaeilge: a haghaidh
roimpi. published by European Bureau for Lesser Used Languages. Dublin.
O'Rahilly, Thomas F. 1972. Irish Dialects Past and Present. Dublin.
Siadhail, Mchel. 1989. Modern Irish: Grammatical Structure and Dialectal Variation.
137
Cambridge.
Tuama, Sen and Thomas Kinsella. 1981. An Duanaire 1600-1800: Poems of the
Dispossessed. Mountrath, Portlaoise. [Duanaire]
Oifig an tSolthair. Gramadach na Gaeilge agus Litri na Gaeilge: An Caighden Oifigiil.
1958. Baile tha Cliath.
Wagner, Heinrich. 1958-69. Linguistic Atlas and Survey of Irish Dialects. 4. vols. Dublin
Institute for Advanced Studies.
Williams, Nicholas, ed. 1988. Cniogaide Cnagaide: Rainn Traidisinta do Phist. Baile tha
Cliath. [CC]
138
F OCLIR GAEILGE-BARLA38
A
a (before a person's name etc)
a (before a noun)
a (before a verbal noun)
abair
baltaU
bhar (m)
ach
'achanU (<gach aon)
dh (m)
dh mr!U
an Afraic (f)
ag
aghaidh (f)
agus
ainm (m)
ainmh (m)
aintn (f)
aisteach
aisteoir (m)
aithne (f)
a ln
amach
amrach
amharc (ar), ag amharc (ar)
amharclann (f)
amhrn (m)
anocht
anois
anseo
ansin
anuraidh
aois (f)
aon
ar (+ lenition)
ar ball
ar bith
ar buile
ar chor ar bithU
vocative marker
3rd person poss. pronoun
to
say
able
subject
but; (with negative) only
every
luck
good luck, good bye
Africa
at, by
face
and
name
animal
aunt
strange
actor
acquaintance
a lot
out
tomorrow
looking, watching
theatre
song
tonight
now
here
there
last year
age
one
on, about
soon
at all
angry
at all
38
(n) noun; (gen) genitive case; (pl) plural; (vb) verb; (adj) adjective; (f) feminine and (m) masculine gender;
U
C/M
superscript Ulster dialect forms (ditto
for Connacht/Munster).
139
ar chl
ar fad
arn (m)
rasn (m)
ard
arir
ars
ar arir
as
athair (m)
athair (m) mr
thas (m)
in the back
complete(ly), entire(ly)
bread
apartment
tall
last night
again
night before last
from
father
grandfather
happiness
B
Baile tha Cliath
baile (m)
baile (m) mr, sa bhaile mhr
abhaile, 'na bhaileU (< chun an bhaile)
as baile
sa bhaile
bain sult as, ag baint suilt as
bainisteoir (m)
bainne (m)
bairn breac (m)
bn
banaltra (f)
barr (m)
barraochtU
beag
bal (m)
bean (f)
bean (f) chile
beannacht (f)
beannachta (pl)
Barla (m)
beirt
b'fhidir
bheith
bhuel
b
bia (m)
bialann (f)
blasta
blth (m)
Dublin
village
town, in town
home, homewards
out of town
at home
enjoy
manager
milk
barmbrack (fruit loaf)
white
nurse
top
too much
small
mouth
woman
wife
blessing, greeting
greetings
English
two people
maybe
being (substantive verb)
well
be
food
restaurant
delicious
flower
140
bliain (f)
b (f)
bocht
bocsaU bruscair
bolg (m)
bomaite (m)
bthar (m)
bre
an Bhreatain Bheag (f)
an Bhreatain Mhr (f)
Breatnach (n and adj)
Breatnais (f)
bricfeasta (m)
briosca (m), briosca (pl)
Briotanach (n and adj)
an Bhriotin (f)
Briotnach (n and adj)
Briotinis (f)
bris, ag briseadh
bris isteach
briste
brste (m), pl: brst
brg (f)
brn (m)
bronntanas (m)
br (m)
buachaill (m), buachaill (pl)
buail, ag bualadh
buail le, ag bualadh le
buartha
bu
buochas (m)
buochas le Dia!
bun (m)
bunchimeach
bus (m)
year
next year
cow
poor
waste paper basket
stomach
minute
road
lovely
Wales
Britain
Welsh person or thing
Welsh language
breakfast
cookie
Briton, British
Brittany
Breton
Breton language
break
break into
broken
pants
shoe
sorrow
present
hostel
boy, lad
strike, hit
meet
worried
yellow
thanks
thank God!
bottom, basis
undergraduate
bus
C
c
cad chuige
cad U / caidU
caife (m)
cailc (f)
where?
why?
what?
coffee, caf
chalk
141
cailn (m), cailn (pl)

caint (f)
ag caint faoi
caith, ag caitheamh
caithfidh
cantalach
caora (f)
capall (m)
cara (m)
carr (m)
carraig (f)
cas ar a chile
cat (m)
cathair (f)
cathaoir (f)
c
ceann (m)
an ceann seo (m)
canna
ceannaigh, ag ceannach
ceantar (m)
ceap, ag ceapadh
ceapaire (m)
cearc (f)
ceart
ceart go leor
ceathair
ceathr
ceol (m)
ceol (m) clasaiceach
ceol (m) traidisinta
ceolchoirm (f)
ceoltir (m)
a chlog
chomh le
chomh maith
chuig
cileagram
cinel (m)
cinelta
cinnte
cionn is go
cste (m)
cistin (f)
girl
talk (n)
talking about
spend, consume, throw
must
grumpy
sheep
horse
friend
car
rock
meet each other
cat
city
chair
who?
head
this one
same
buy
area
think, invent
sandwich
chicken
right, proper
right enough, allright
four
quarter
music
classical music
traditional music
concert
musician
o'clock
asas (in comparison)
as well
to
kilogram,
kind, sort
kind (adj)
certain
because
cake
kitchen
142
ciin
clann (f)
clr dubh (m)
cliste
cluas (f)
cluiche (m)
cluiche na bhfochupn
cluin, ag cluinstin
cn (m), pl cnnna
ccaire (m)
ag ccaireacht
codladh (m)
cipleabhar (m)
cisir (f)
col ceathrair (m), pl col ceathracha
cna (m)
cos (f)
cosil, is cosil
cta (m)
crann (m)
crochnaigh, ag crochn
crochnaithe
cro (m)
cuid (f)
cuid (f) mhr
cig
is cuimhin le
cuir, ag cur
cuisneoir (m)
is cuma liom
cpla
ag cur bist
ag cur sneachta
crsa, pl crsa (m)
quiet
children
blackboard
intelligent, clever
ear
game
saucer game
hear
nut, nuts
cook
cooking
sleep
notebook
party
cousin
home
foot
likely, it is likely
coat
tree
finish
finished
heart, darling
portion
a lot
five
remember
put
fridge
I don't mind, I don't care
a couple
raining
snowing
course
D
d
ag damhsa
daoine beaga/maithe
dath (m), pl dathanna
dathil
de
de ghnth
deacair
if (in conditional sentence)

dancing
the fairies
colour
handsome, pretty
from
usually
difficult
143
dan, ag danamh
dan deifir
dan dearmad (ar rud)
ag danamh staidir ar
danta
dearg
dearthir (m)
deas
dea-scala
deich
deifir (f)
deireadh (m) seachtaine
deirfir (f)
deoch (f)
dh, an d
dia (m)
Dia duit
Dia is Muire duit (response)
dinnar (m)
ag dol
dom (f)
dlodir (m)
do (+ lenition)
d
dochtir (m)
dite
donn
doras (m)
dorcha
drma (m)
droch- (prefix)
drochscal (m)
druid, ag druidimU
druidteU
dubh
dubh dite
duine (m)
diseacht (f)
duit
ag dul
dul ag iascaireacht
do
hurry up
forget (something)
studying
done
red
brother
nice
good news
ten
hurry
weekend
sister
drink
two (adj)
god
Hello (`God to you')
Hello (`God and Mary to you')
dinner
selling
disappointment
lawyer
to, for
two (number)
doctor
burned
brown
door
dark
drama
bad
bad news
close
closed
black
sick and tired
person, man
waking state
to you (sg)
going
go fishing
E
, eisean
he
144
eagla (f)
an (m)
earrach (m)
eile
Eilvis, an (f)
ire (f)
ireannach
irigh, ag ir
ironn le (impersonal)
ist, ag isteacht (le)
eitlen (m)
eolas (m)
fear
bird
spring
other
Switzerland
Ireland
Irish person or thing
rise, get up, become
succeed in
listen (to)
plane
knowledge
F
fada
fadhb (f)
faigh, ag fil
filte romhat!
t filte romhat
falsa
fan, ag fanacht (le)
faoi (+ lenition)
faoin tuath
farraige (f)
fear (m)
fear (m) cile
far (m)
fearg (f)
fearr (comparative of maith)
feic, ag feiceil
is fidir liom
feirm (f)
feirmeoir (m)
feith, ag feitheamh
feoil (f)
fidil (f)
fon (m)
fionn
fios (m)
fliuch
foghlaim, ag foghlaim
fmhar (m)
foscailU
foscailteU
long
problem
get
welcome!
you're welcome
lazy
wait (for)
about, under
in the country side
sea
man
husband
grass
anger
better
see
I am able, I can
farm
farmer
wait, expect
meat
fiddle
wine
blond
knowledge
wet
learning
fall
open
open
145
fostaU
an Fhrainc (f)
Fraincis (f)
freastla (m)
fuar
fuath (m)
fuinneog (f)
also
France
French
attendant, waiter
cold
hate
window
G
gach
an Ghaeilge (f)
gaineamh (m)
ag gire
gairid
gan
gan mhoill
gaoth (f)
gasr (m)
geal
gealach (f)
geansa (m)
gearn (m)
an Ghearmin (f)
Gearmineach (n and adj)
Gearminis (f)
geimhreadh (m)
glac, ag glacadh
glantir (m)
glan
glan, ag glanadh
glao (m); cuir glao ar X
glas
glasra
glasta
gloine (f)
glin (f)
gluaisten (m)
gn (m)
gnthach, gnitheachU
go (prep.; prefixes `h' to vowel)
go (before adj)
go hannamh
go fill
every
Irish language
Scots Gaelic
sand
laughing
short
without
soon
wind
small boy
bright
moon
pullover (sweater)
complaint
Germany
German
German
winter
take
duster
clean (adj)
clean (vb)
call; call X (on the phone)
green (as in vegetation
vegetables
dressed
glass
knee, generation
car
business
busy
to
adverbial marker
seldom
yet
146
go minic
go raibh maith agat
go raibh cad/mle maith agat
go dt
gorm
goid, ag goid
gr (m)
grian (f)
grianmhar
gna (m)
often
thank you
thank you very much
to, up to, until
blue
steal
love
sun
sunny
dress
H
hata (m)
hat
I
i (+ eclipsis)
, ise
i m'aonar
i mbun
i gceann
i gceann tamaill
i gcna
i ndiaidh
iad, iadsan
iarchimeach
iarsmalann (f)
idir
imigh, ag imeacht
imir, ag imirt
imn (f)
in aice
Indiach
inon (f)
inn
inniu
Iodileach
Iodilis (f)
iontach
iontas (m)
is (conj.)
is (verb)is
is igean do
isteach
ith, ag ithe
in
she
by myself
in charge of
within
in a little while
always
after
they
postgraduate
museum
between
leave
play (a sport)
anxiety, worry
near
Indian (noun or adjective)
daughter
yesterday
today
Italian (noun or adjective)
Italian
wonderful; as adv.: very
surprise, wonder
and
is (copula verb)
must
in
eat
147
L
l (m)
labhair, ag labhairt
lag
lidir
lmh (f)
le (prefixes `h' to vowel)
le anuas
le chile
le do thoil
leaba (f)
leabhar (m)
leabharlann (f)
lacht (f)
lachtir (m)
ag lamh
leanbh (m)
lann (m) Ceilteach
leath
leathuair
ligh, ag lamh
line (f)
liath (m. noun and adj)
lig do scth
litir (f)
ln (m)
luch (f)
lu (m)
day
speak
weak
strong
hand
with, by
for (duration of time past)
together
please
bed
book
library
lecture
lecturer
reading
child
Celtic Studies
half
half hour
read
shirt
grey, grey-haired
relax
letter
lunch
mouse
lying, reclining
M
m
mac (m)
mac linn (m), mic linn (pl)
madadhU (m)
maidin (f)
maith
mla (m)
mar
mar at
mar
mar gheall ar
mar sin
marbh
if
son
student
dog
morning
good
bag
as, like
as it is
because
because of
therefore, then
dead
148
mthair (f)
mthair (f) mhr
m, mise
meas (m)
Meirice
Meiricenach
m (f)
an mh seo chugainn
milsen (m), milsein (pl)
n miste liom
mol, ag moladh
mr
mr millteachU
muid, muidinne
minteoir (m), minteoir (pl)
mother
grandmother
I, me
respect
America, USA
American (n or adj)
month
next month
candy (sweets)
I don't mind
praise
big
great big, huge
we
teacher
N
n
n
n b buartha
'na bhaile (=chun an bhaile)
n dan dearmad ar
n habair
nire (f)
naoi
nia (m)
nimhneach
nos dana
n
nua
Nua Eabhrac
nuair
than; or
do not
don't worry
(to) home
don't forget
don't mention it
shame
nine
nephew
sore
later
or
new
New York
when
O
(+ lenition)
am go ham
shin
obair (f)
ocht
ocras (m)
g
oche (f)
Oche Shamhna (f)
oifig (f)
from
from time to time
ago, since then
work
eight
hunger
young
night
Halloween
office
149
l, ag l
olc
ollscoil (f)
ollmhargadh (m)
stn (m)
drinking
bad
university
supermarket
hotel
P
pacilte
pipar (m)
piste (m)
Pras (m)
peann (m)
peann luaidhe (m)
peil (f)
pinteil
pionta (m)
posa (m)
pldaithe
plr (m)
popcheol (m)
post (m)
psta
prta rsta
picn (m)
packed
paper
child
Paris
pen
pencil
soccer
painting
pint
a piece
crowded
flour
pop music
job
married
roast potatoes
blindfold
R
ag r
ramhar
rang (m)
an rang (m) Gaeilge
ritigh, ag riteach
ag rince
rith, ag rith
rua
rud (m)
rna (m)
saying
fat
class
the Irish class
arrange, settle, get along with
dancing
run
red-haired
thing
administrator
S
sa (<i + an)
saibhir
samhradh (m)
saoiste (m)
saor
Sasana (m)
in the
rich
summer
boss
free
England
150
Sasanach (n and adj)

ssta
scamallach
scannn (m)
scartha
scal (m)
sciorta (m)
scoil (f)
scrobh, ag scrobh
scrbhneoir (m)
s
seacht
seachtain (f)
sean
seasamh (m)
sasr (m)
seinn, ag seinm
seo
seomra (m)
seomra scoile (m)
sibh, sibhse
sin
sine (< sean)
singil
an tSn (f)
Snis (f)
siopa (m)
siopadir (m)
ag siopadireacht
sos
na soga
siil, ag sil
slaghdn (m)
sln
sln!
sln go fill!
sl bheatha
sliabh (m)
snagcheol (m)
ag snmh
ag soilsi
sona
sona ssta
English person or thing

content
cloudy
movie
separated
story
skirt
school
writing
writer
six
seven
week
next week
old
standing
season
play (music)
this
room
schoolroom
you (pl)
that
elder, eldest
single
China
Chinese
shop
shopkeeper
shopping
down
the fairies
walk
cold (n)
healthy
goodbye!
goodbye! see you later!
profession
hill
jazz
swimming
shining
happy
very happy
151
an Spinn (f)
Spinneach (n and adj)
Spinnis (f)
spir (f)
spirbhean
speisialta
go speisialta
srid (f)
srn (f)
stbla (m)
stad, ag stad
ag staidar
suas
suigh, ag su
sil (f)
t sil agam
ag sil le
ag sil go mr le
suim (f)
t suim agam i
suimiil
Spain
Spaniard, Spanish
Spanish language
sky
dream woman
special
especially
street
nose
stable
stop
studying
up
sit
eye, expectation, hope
I hope
expecting
looking forward to
interest (n)
I am interested in
interesting
T
t
tbhachtach
tabhair, ag tabhairt
tblaU (m)
tae (m)
taibhse (m), taibhs (pl)
taisteal (m)
taitnonn le
tana
tar, ag teacht
te
teach (m)
teach listn
teach tbhairne
ag teacht
teaghlach (m)
teilifs (f)
tigh, ag dul
thall ansin
thig le
chfidh m th
am, is, etc (substantive vb)

important
give
table
tea
ghost, ghosts
travel
pleases
thin
come
hot
house
lodging house
pub
coming
household
television
go
over there
is able
I'll see you!
152
tinn
tinneas (m) cinn
tinneas (m) fiacaile
tiomin, ag tiomint
tiomna (m)
tirim
tost (m)
tr (f)
traein (f)
traidisinta
tr
trir
troid, ag troid
trua (f)
is trua , is trua sin
t, tusa
tuig, ag tuigbheilU, ag tuiscint
tuirse (f)
tuirseach
tuismitheoir (m), tuismitheoir (pl)
ts (m)
sick
headache
toothache
drive
driver
dry
silence
beach
train
traditional
three
three people
fight
pity
it's a pity
you (sg)
understand
fatigue, tiredness
tired
parent
beginning
U
uachtar (m) reoite
uaine (f. noun and adj)
uair (f), uaireanta (pl)
uaireanta
uimhir (f)
uisce (m)
ll (m), pl lla
uncail (m)
ice cream
green (as in garments etc.)
hour
sometimes
number
water
apple, apples
uncle
153
FOCLIR BARLA-GAEILGE
A
able
about
above
acquaintance, knowledge of person
actor
accent (n)
he has an American accent
administrator (US)
address
adolescent
adult (adj)
adult (n.)
Africa
after
afternoon
again
against
age
ago
agree with
a lot
allow, let
almost
alright
also
always
America, USA
American (n and adj)
among
and
anger
anger
animal
announcement, notice
annoy, bother
answer (vb)
answer (n)
answering machine
anxiety, worry
apartment (US)
baltaU
fU, faoi
os cionn (+ gen.)
aithne (f)
aisteoir (m)
blas (m)
t blas Meiricenach air
rna (m)
seoladh (m)
dagir (m)
do dhaoine fsta
duine fsta
an Afraic (f)
i ndiaidhU / tar is (+ gen)
trthnna (m)
ars
in aghaidh (+ gen.)
aois (f)
shin
aontaigh le, ag aont le
cuid mhrU, a ln
lig
chir a bheithU, beagnach
ceart go leor
fostaU, freisin
i gcna
Meirice (m)
Meiricenach (m)
i measc (+ gen)
agus, is
fearg (f)
ar buile
ainmh (m)
fgra (m)
cuir as do
freagair, ag freagairt
freagra (m)
glas (m) freagartha
imn (f)
rasn (m)
154
apple
apple pie
approximately
architect
area
around
around the area
arrogant
art
artist
as, like
as ... as
as well, in addition
Asia
ask
at, by
at all
attendant, waiter
aunt
autumn
ll (m)
toirtn (m) ll
thart fU
ailtire (m)
ceantar (m)
thart fU
thart fn itU
sotalach
ealan (f)
ealaontir (m)
mar
chomh ... le
chomh maith
an ise (f)
fiafraigh de
ag
ar bith, ar chor ar bithU
freastla (m)
aintn (f)
fmhar (m)
B
baby
back (n)
back (adv)
bad
bad news
bag
bank
barmbrack
be
be able
beach
beautiful
bed
beer
before
beginning
believe
leanbh (m), naonn (m)

droim (m)
ar ais
olc, drochdrochscala
mla (m)
banc (m)
bairn breac (m)
b, bheith
thig le, bheith balta
tr (f)
lainn
leaba (f)
beoir (f)
roimh, sula (with verb)
ts (m)
creid, ag creidbheilU
ag creidiint
nos fearr
idir (+ lenition)
mr
an (m)
better
between
big
bird
155
biscuit(s), cookie(s)
black
blackboard
blonde
blue
bone
book
boring
boss
bother, annoy
Boston
bottle
bottom
boy
branch
bread
break
breakfast
Breton (n and adj)
Breton language
bright
Britain
British
broken
brother
brown
brush (n)
hairbrush
brush, sweep
bus
busy
but
butcher
butter
buy, buying
by, next to
by (authorship)
briosca (m), briosca

dubh
clr dubh (m)
fionn
gorm
cnmh (f)
leabhar (m)
leadrnach
saoiste (m)
cuir as do
Bostn (m)
buidal (m)
bun (m)
buachaill (m), gasr (m)
craobh (f)
arn (m)
bris, ag briseadh
bricfeasta (m)
Briotnach (m)
Briotinis (f)
geal
An Bhreatain Mhr
Briotanach
briste
dearthir (m)
donn
scuab (f)
scuab gruaige (f)
scuab, ag scuabadh
bus (m)
gnthach
ach
bistir (m)
im (m)
ceannaigh, ag ceannach
cois (+ gen)
C
caf
cake
call
camcorder
caife
cste (m)
cuir glaoch ar, cuir scairt ar
ceamthaifeadn (m)
156
camera
car
cat
CD see compact disc
cell phone
Celtic Studies
certainly
chair
chalk
cheese
change (n)
change (vb)
character
cheers!
chemistry
chicken
child
children
China
Chinese language
Christmas
Christmas tree
church
ceamara (m)
carr (m), gluaisten (m)
cat (m)
fn pca, fn siil
an Lann Ceilteach (m)
cinnte
cathaoir (f)
cailc (f)
cis (f)
briseadh
athraigh, ag athr
carachtar (m)
Slinte! Slinte mhaith!
ceimic (f)
cearc (f)
leanbh (m), piste (m)
clann (f)
an tSn (f)
Snis (f)
Nollaig (f)
crann (m) Nollag
teach (m) an phobail (Cath.)
eaglais (f) (Cath./Prot.)
ceirtlis (f)
s ll (m)
toitn (m)
pictirlann (f)
cathair (f)
lr (m) na cathrach
rang (m)
ceol clasaiceach (m)
glan
glan, ag glanadh
cliste
clog (m)
a chlog
druid, ag druidimU;
dn, ag dnadh
druidteU, dnta
cuid (f) adaigh
scamallach
cta (m)
cider (alcoholic)
cider, apple juice
cigarette
cinema
city
city centre
class
classical music
clean (adj)
clean (vb)
clever
clock
o'clock
close
closed
clothes
cloudy
coat
157
coffee
cold (adj)
cold (n.)
collect
college
color
come
come here
compact disc
compact disc player
complaint
completely, entirely
computer, personal ~
computer game
computer software
concert
condom
contemporary
content
contraceptives
cook
cookie(s)
cooking
copy (n)
copy (vb)
country
countryside, in the country
country-western
couple, a few
couple (n)
course
cousin
cousins
cow
credit card
crosswords
crowded
culture
current affairs
caife (m)
fuar
slaghdn (m)
bailigh
coliste (m)
dath (m)
tar, ag teacht
goitseU; tar anseo
dlthdhiosca (m)
seinnteoir (m) dlthdhiosca
gearn (an)
ar fad
romhaire (m); ~ pearsanta
cluiche (m) romhaire
bogearra romhaire
ceolchoirm (f)
coiscn (m)
comhaimseartha
ssta
frithghininaigh
ccaire (m)
briosca() (m)
ag ccaireacht
cip (f)
dan cip de
tr (f)
faoin tuath
ceol (m) tuaithe
cpla
lnin (f)
crsa (m)
col ceathrair (m)
col ceathracha
b (f)
crta (m) creidmheasa
crosfhocail
pldaithe
cultr (m)
crsa reatha
D
dancing
dangerous
ag damhsa, ag rince
contirteach
158
dark (adj)
daughter
day
dead
degree (academic)
undergraduate degree
graduate/postgraduate degree
department
depressed
dessert
detective
detective story
delicious, tasty
describe
description
desert
detective
difficult
dinner
disappointment
dishes
dissertation
divorce
divorced
do
doctor
dog
doll
dollar
done
door
down
dorcha
inon (f)
l (m)
marbh
cim (m)
bunchim (m)
ardchim (m)
roinn (f)
in sle (f) br
milseog (f)
bleachtaire (m)
scal (m) bleachtaireachta
blasta
cuir sos (ar)
cur sos
fsach
bleachtaire
deacair, crua
dinnar (m)
dom
soith
trchtas (m)
colscaradh (m)
colscartha
dan, ag danamh
dochtir (m)
madadhU/C (m); madraM (m)
babg (f)
dollar (m)
danta
doras (m)
sos (direction),
thos (location)
dosaen (an)
drma (m)
drmaocht (f)
gna (m)
cuir ada ort
glasta
deoch (f)
l, ag l
tiomin, ag tiomint
tiomna (m)
dozen
drama, play
drama, dramatic art
dress (n)
dress (vb)
dressed
drink (n)
drink (vb)
drive
driver
159
drug(s)
drug abuse
Dublin
duster
druga()
m-sid (f) druga
Baile (m) tha Cliath
glantir (m)
E
ear
earned
eat
economics
egg (n)
eight
electric
e-mail
emergency exit
empty
end (n)
in the end
engaged (to be married)
English
enjoy
entrance
environment
euro
even
ever
clas (f)
tuillte
ith, ag ithe
eacnamaocht (f)
ubh (f)
ocht
leictreach
romhphost (m)
doras (m) alaithe
folamh
deireadh (m)
sa deireadh
geallta
Barla (m)
bain sult as, ag baint suilt as
bealach (m) isteach
an comhshaol (m)
euro
fi
riamh (in past)
choche (in future)
gach, gach aon ('achanU)
dreach
go dreach
scrd (m)
gabh mo leithscal
bealach (m) amach
daor
thar a bheith
sil (f)
every
exactly
exactly!
exam
excuse me
exit (n)
expensive
extremely
eye (n)
F
face (n)
factory
fair-haired
fairies
aghaidh (f)
monarcha (f)
fionn, bn
na soga, na daoine beaga,
na daoine maithe
160
fail (vb)
I failed the test
fall, autumn
falling in love
farm (n)
farmer
fat
father
fatigue
favour
fear
feel
fence (n)
fiction
fiddle
fight (vb)
field (of grass)
field (tilled)
find (vb)
finish (vb)
finished
fire (n)
fish (n)
fishing
fitting, proper
five
flower
flour
fluent
food
foot
for
for (completed duration of time)
for (ongoing duration of time)
foreign (language etc.)
foreigner
forget
fortnight
found, establish
four
France
free
French person or thing
theip ar
theip orm sa teist
fmhar (m)
ag titim i ngr
feirm (f)
feirmeoir (m)
ramhar
athair (m)
tuirse (f)
gar (m)
eagla (f)
braith; mothaigh
cla (m)
ficsean (m)
fidil (f)
troid, ag troid
pirc (f)
gort (m), cuibhreann (m)
aimsigh; faigh
crochnaigh, ag crochn
crochnaithe
tine (f)
iasc (m)
iascaireacht (f), ag ~
cir
cig
blth (m)
plr (m)
lofa
bia (b)
cos (f)
do (+ lenition)
ar feadh (+ gen)
le
iasachta
coimhthoch
dan dearmad (ar)
coics (f)
cuir ar bun
ceathair
an Fhrainc (f)
saor
Francach (m)
161
French language
friend
friendly
from (a place)
from, made of
fruits
full
funny
Fraincis (f)
cara (m)
cairdiil
as; (+ lenition)
de (+ lenition)
tortha
ln
greannmhar
G
game
generally
German (n and adj)
German language
Germany
get, find
get along with, agree with, s.o.
get up
ghost
girl
give
glass
glove
go
go on!
good
good luck!
good luck, goodbye!
good news
goodbye
government
grandfather
grandmother
grass
grey-haired
greeting(s)
cluiche (m)
go ginearlta
Gearmineach (m)
Gearminis (f)
an Ghearmin (f)
faigh, ag fil
ag riteach le duine
irigh, ag ir
taibhse (m)
cailn (m)
tabhair, ag tabhairt
gloine (f)
lmhainn (f)
tigh, ag dul
lean ort, lean ar aghaidh
maith
go n-ir leat
dh mr
dea-scala
sln
rialtas (m)
athair mr, seanathair (m)
mthair mhr, seanmhthair
far (m)
liath
beannacht (f), beannachta green
glas (natural), uaine (other)
dream (m)
cantalach
treoirleabhar (m)
giotar (m)
sobn (m)
group
grumpy
guidebook
guitar
gust
162
H
hair
half
and a half
half hour
half pint
Halloween
hand
handsome, beautiful
happiness
hard
harm (n)
harp
hat
hate (n)
he
head (n)
headache
headphones
health
hear, hearing
heart
Hello!
Hello! (response)
here
hip-hop
hitchhiking
home (n)
at home
home, homewards
homework
horrible
horror movie
horse
hospital
hostel
hot
hotel
hour, one hour
house
household
housework
gruaig (f), cuid (f) gruaige

leath (f)
go leith
leathuair (f)
leathphionta (m)
Oche Shamhna (f)
lmh (f)
dathil
thas (m), lchir (m)
crua
urchid (f)
clirseach (f)
hata (m)
fuath
, eisean, s
ceann (m)
tinneas (m) cinn
cluasin
slinte (f)
cluin, ag cluinstin
cro (m)
Dia duit!
Dia is Muire duit!
anseo
ceol hip hap
dul ar ordg
cna, teach
sa bhaile
abhaile, 'na bhaileU
obair bhaile
uafsach
scannn (m) uafis
capall (m)
otharlann (f), ospidal (m)
br (m)
te
stn (m)
uair (f), uair an chloig
teach (m)
teaghlach (m)
obair t (f)
163
cad marU
conasM
c chaoiC
c fhad
c mhad
ocras (m)
deifir (f)
dan deifir
fear (m) cile
how?
how long?
how much/many?
hunger
hurry (n)
hurry up
husband
I
I
ice cream
idea
good idea
ideology
if
m, mise
reoiteog (f), uachtar reoite (m)
baril (f), smaoineamh (m)
smaoineamh maith
d-eolaocht
d (with conditional verb),
m (otherwise)
i (+ eclipsis)
i gceann tamaill
ar chl (+ gen)
os comhair (+ gen)
eolas (m)
cliste
bheith ar intinn ag duine
suim (f)
suimiil
idirlon (m)
idirnaisinta
crosbhthar (m)
agallamh (m)
isteach
ire (f)
ireannach (m)
an Ghaeilge (f)
is (copula),
t (substantive verb)
oilen (m)
Iodileach (m)
Iodilis (f)
an Iodil (f)
in
in a while
in back of
in front of
information
intelligent
intend
interest
interesting
internet
international
intersection
interview
into
Ireland
Irish
Irish language
is
island
Italian (n and adj)
Italian language
Italy
J
164
jazz
job
journey
snagcheol (m)
post (m)
aistear (m)
K
key
keyboard
kidding, teasing
kind (n)
kind (adj)
kitchen
knee
knowledge (of place or expertise)
knowledge of fact
knowledge of person, acquaintance
eochair (f), pl eochracha

marchlr (m)
ag magadh
cinel (m), srt (m)
cinelta
cistin (f)
glin (f)
eolas (m)
fios (m)
aithne (f)
L
last, endure, live
last (adj)
last month
last night
last week
last year
later
laughing
laughter
lawyer
leaf
learn
leave (intrans.), go away
leave behind (trans.),
lecture
lecturer
letter
library
life
lift, ride
like (prep)
I like
listen (to)
literature
local
local people
mair, ag maireachtil
deireannach
an mh seo caite
arir
an tseachtain seo caite
anuraidh
nos dana, nos moille
ag gire
gire (m)
dlodir (m)
duilleog (f)
foghlaim, ag foghlaim
imigh, ag imeacht
fg, ag fgil
lacht (f)
lachtir (m)
litir (f)
leabharlann (f)
saol (m)
sob (f)
cosil le
is maith liom; t dil agam i
ist (le), ag isteacht (le)
litrocht (f)
itiil
muintir (f) na hite
165
look, watch
looking forward to
lose
a lot
love (n)
I love, like
I love (romantically)
lovely
London
long
luck
lunch
lying down
amharc (ar), ag amharc (ar)

ag sil (go mr) le rud
caill, ag cailleadh
a ln, cuid mhr
gr
is bre liom
t m i ngr le
go bre
Londain (f)
fada
dh
ln (m)
ag lu
M
magazine
make-up
man
manager
map
married
marry
maybe
meat
medicine
meet
meet with
meeting
melancholy
mention
mermaid
mess
microwave (n)
middle
milk
mind (n)
I don't mind/care
minister (religious)
minister (government)
minute
mistake
mobile phone
month
iris (f)
smideadh (m)
fear (m)
bainisteoir (m)
larscil (f)
psta
ps, ag psadh
b'fhidir
feoil (f)
leigheas (m)
cas ar, ag casadh ar
buail le, ag bualadh le
cruinni (m)
lionn dubh (m), gruaim (f)
trcht ar
maighdean mhara (f)
praiseach (m)
micrethonnn (m)
lr (m)
bainne (m)
intinn (f)
is cuma liom
ministir (m)
aire
bomaiteU (m)
meancg (f)
fn siil (m), fn pca (m)
m (f)
166
moon
morning
mother
mountain
mouse
mouth
movie, film
moving
museum
music
music program
musicals
musician
must
gealach (f)
maidin (f)
mthair (m)
sliabh (m)
luchg (f)
bal (m)
scannn (m)
ag bogadh
iarsmalann (f)
ceol (m)
clr (m) ceoil
ceolra
ceoltir (m)
caithfidh
N
name (n)
near
need, lack (n)
I need
neighbor
Nepal
nephew
new
New York
next to
next month
next summer
next thing
next week
next year
nice
niece
night
night before last
nine
nose
novel (n)
now
number
nurse (n)
nut
ainm (m)
cngarach do, in aice le
dth (f)
t ... de dhth ormU
comharsa (f)
Neipel (f)
nia (m)
nua
Nua Eabhrac (m)
in aice (le)
an mh seo chugainn
an samhradh seo chugainn
an chad rud eile
deas
neacht (f)
oche (f)
ar arir
naoi
srn (f)
rscal (m)
anois
uimhir (f)
banaltra (f)
cn (m)
167
O
o'clock
office
often
old
old-fashioned
on
once
once or twice
one (number)
one (adj)
this one
only
only one
open (vb)
open (adj)
opera
opinion
what's your opinion?
in my opinion
or
orange (n and adj)
other
out (going ~)
outside (being ~)
outside of
over, across, past
overseas
a chlog
oifig (f)
go minic
sean
sean-aimseartha
ar (+ lenition)
uair (f)
uair n dh
aon
amhin
an ceann seo
ach (with negative)
aon ... amhin
foscailU, oscail
foscailteU, oscailte
ceoldrma (m)
baril (f)
cad do bharil?U
dar liom (go)
n
oriste (m)
eile
amach (as)
amuigh
taobh amuigh de
thar
thar lear, thar sile
P
packed
painter
painting
pants, trousers
paper
parent
Paris
party (social)
party (political)
pass, succeed
I passed the test
pc see personal computer
pen
pacilte
pintir (m)
ag pinteil
brste (m)
pipar (m)
tuismitheoir (m)
Pras (m)
cisir (f)
pirt (m)
ironn le
d'irigh liom sa teist
peann (m)
168
pencil
penny
people (collective)
people (sg)
people (pl)
perhaps
person
personal (adj)
personal computer
personally
pet
PhD, doctorate
phone (n)
cell phone
phone number
photo (n)
photocopy (n)
photography
physics
piano
piece
pig
pint
pity
plan (n)
plane
plant
play, drama (n)
playing (an instrument)
playing (a game or sport)
please!
plot (n)
pocket (n)
poem
poet
poetry
politics
peann (m) luaidhe

pingin (f)
muintir (f)
pobal (m)
daoine (m pl)
b'fhidir
duine (m)
pearsanta
romhaire pearsanta
go pearsanta
peata (m)
dochtireacht (f)
fn (m)
fn pca
uimhir (f) fin
grianghraf (m)
ftachip (f)
grianghrafadireacht (f)
fisic (f)
pian (m)
posa (m)
muc (f)
pionta (m)
trua (f)
plean (m)
eitlen (m)
planda (m)
drma (m)
ag seinm
ag imirt
le do thoil!
plota (m)
pca (m)
dn (m)
file (m)
filocht (f)
polaitocht (f),
crsa polatochta
bocht
popcheol (m)
cuid (f)
dearfach
oifig (f) an phoist
poor
pop music
portion
positive, certain
post office
169
postgraduate (adj)
postgraduate student
potato(es)
pound
praising
pregnant
present, gift
priest
print (in print, out of print)
prize
probably
problem
profession
professor (B&I), full professor (US)
professor (US)
program
proud (of)
psychology
pub, bar
pullover
purse
put
iarchimeach
mac linn iarchimeach (m)
prta() (m)
punt (m)
ag moladh
torrach
bronntanas (m)
sagart (m)
cl (m) (i gcl, as cl)
duais (f)
is cosil, is dcha
fadhb (f)
sl (f) bheatha
ollamh (m)
lachtir (m)
clr (m)
brdil (as)
sceolaocht (f)
teach (m) tbhairne
geansa (m)
sparn (m)
cuir, ag cur
Q
quarter
quarter of an hour
quiet
ceathr (f)
ceathr (f) uair an chloig
ciin
R
radio
rain (n)
raining
raise, take
read
ready, finished
reasonable
reasonably
recognize
red
red-haired
refrigerator
relax
remedy (n)
raidi (m)
bisteach (f); fearthainne (f)
ag cur bist
tg, ag tgil
ligh, ag lamh
ridh
rasnta
rasnta, measartha
aithin, ag aithint
dearg
rua
cuisneoir (m)
lig do scth
leigheas (m)
170
remember
request (vb)
research
respect (n)
restaurant
retire
retired
rice
right, proper
right enough
rise, get up
road
rock
rock-music
romance (novel)
romantic affairs
room
rose
run
is cuimhin le
iarr (ar), ag iarraidh (ar)
taighde (m)
meas (m)
bialann (f)
irigh as, ag ir as
irithe as
rs (f)
ceart
ceart go leor
irigh, ag ir
bthar (m)
carraig (f)
roc-cheol (m)
scal (m) gr
crsa gr
seomra (m)
rs (m)
rith, ag rith
S
sailor
salt
same
sand
sandwich
say, tell
school
primary school
secondary school, high school
science
Scot
Scotland
Scottish
Scottish Gaelic
sea
season (n)
secretary
see
seldom
selling
sensible
separated
mairnalach (m)
salann (m)
canna
gaineamh (m)
ceapaire (m)
abair (le); inis (do)
scoil (f)
bunscoil (f)
menscoil (f)
eolaocht (f)
Albanach (m)
Albain (f)
Albanach
farraige (f)
sasr (m)
rna (m)
feic, ag feiceil
annamh
ag dol
ciallmhar
scartha
171
seven
shame (n)
she
sheep
shining
shirt
shoe
shop
shopkeeper
shopping
shopping centre
short
shy
sick
silence (n)
silence!
sing (a song)
singing
single
sister
sitting
six
skirt
sky
sleep
sleet
small
smart, clever
smile
smoking
no smoking!
snow
snowing
soap opera
soccer
sociology
some
sometimes
son, boy
song
soon
sore
sorrow
seacht
nire (f)
, ise, s
caora (f)
ag soilsi
line (f)
brg (f)
siopa (m)
siopadir (m)
ag siopadireacht
ionad (m) siopadireachta
gairid
faiteach
tinn
tost (m)
cinas! (m)
abair amhrn, gabh amhrn
ag canadh
singil
deirfir (f)
ag su
s
sciorta (m)
spar
codladh (m)
fliuchshneachta (m)
beag
cliste
meangadh (m)
ag caitheamh (tobaic)
cosc ar thobac
sneachta (m)
ag cur sneachta
sobalchlr (m)
peil (f)
socheolaocht (f)
igin, inteachtU
uaireanta, corruair
mac (m)
amhrn (m)
ar ball, gan mhoill
nimhneach
brn (m)
172
sound
Spain
Spaniard
Spanish (adj)
Spanish language
speak
speech
spices
spoil
sport
sports program
sports centre
spring
stable (n)
standing
star
movie star, starlet
stay
stay there
staying
steal
stereo, record player
stomach (n)
stop (vb)
storm
story
straight
strange
street
strong
student
studying
stupid
suburb
succeed (in)
I passed the exam
fuaim (f)
an Spinn (f)
Spinneach
Spinneach
Spinnis (f)
labhair, ag labhairt
rid (f)
sposra
mill, ag milleadh
sprt (m)
clr (m) spirt
ionad (m) spirt
earrach (m)
stbla (m)
ag seasamh
ralta (f)
ralta scannn, realtg
fan, ag fanacht
fan ansin
ag stopadh, ag fanacht
goid, ag goid
seinnteoir (m)
bolg (m)
stad, ag stad
stoirm (f)
scal (m)
dreach
aisteach
srid (f)
lidir
mac (m) linn
ag staidar
bmnta
bruachbhaile (m)
ironn le (i)
d'irigh liom sa srd
sugar
summer
sun
sunny
supermarket
swim
sicra (m)
samhradh (m)
grian (f)
grianmhar
ollmhargadh (m)
snmh, ag snmh
173
sweep
sweets
Swiss
Switzerland
scuab, ag scuabadh
milsein
Eilviseach
an Eilvis (f)
T
table
take
tblaU (m), bord (m)

glac, ag glacadh;
tg, ag tgil
caint (f)
ag caint
clr (m) cainte
ard
tip (m)
tipthaifeadn (m)
blas (m)
blasta
tae (m)
pota (m) tae
minteoir (m)
stric, ag striceadh
teileafn (m); guthn (m)
teilifs (f)
inis (sceal), ag insint (scil)
inis (do); abair (le)
deich
leadg (f)
sceimhlitheoir (m)
n
buochas (m)
mle buochas
buochas le Dia
go raibh maith agat/agaibh
go raibh cad/mle maith agat
an ... sin
an leabhar sin
sin
sin a bhfuil
amharclann (f)
diagacht (f)
teiripe (f)
ansin
siad, siadsan, iad, iadsan
talk (n)
talking
talk show
tall
tape
tapedeck, tape recorder
taste (n)
tasty
tea
tea pot
teacher
tear (vb)
telephone (n)
television
tell (a story)
tell (someone something)
ten
tennis
terrorist
than
thanks
many thanks
thank God
thank you (sg/pl)
thank you (sg) very much
that
that book
that's it
that's all
theatre
theology
therapy
there
they
174
thick
thief
thin
thing
think (about)
thirst (n)
thirsty, dry
I got thirsty
this
this one
this year
thought, idea
three
three people
thriller (novel, film)
throughout
Tibet
tidy, put in order
tights
tired
I'm tired of it
tiredness, fatigue
to (a place)
to (event)
to, for
to, in order to
tiubh
gada (m)
tana
rud (m)
smaoinigh (ar), ag smaoineamh
tart (m)
tirim
bhuail tart m
an ... seo
an ceann seo
i mbliana
smaoineamh (m)
tr
trir
scinsir (m)
ar fud
an Tibid (f)
ritigh, ag riteach
riteoga
tuirseach
t m tuirseach de
tuirse (f)
go (prefixes `h' to vowel)
chuig
do (+ lenition)
chun (+ gen)
le chile, in ineacht le
amrach
inniu
anocht
fostaU; freisin
rbarraochtU
fiacal (m), fiacla (pl)
tinneas fiacaile (m)
scuab fiacla (f)
taos fiacla
barr (m)
turasir (m)
aistrigh, ag aistri
aistrichn (m)
crann (m)
together
tomorrow
today
tonight
too (also)
too (excessive)
too much (n)
tooth
toothache
toothbrush
toothpaste
top
tourist
translate
translation
tree
175
tradition
traditional music
train
train station
travel
trouble
trousers
truth
turkey
two (number)
two (adj)
two people
traidisin (m)
ceol traidisinta (m)
traein (f)
stisin traenach (m)
taisteal (m)
trioblid (f)
brste (m)
frinne (f)
turca (m)
d
dh (+ lenition)
beirt (f) (+ lenition)
U
uncle
under
undergraduate
undergraduate degree
understand
unemployed
university
until, up to
up (direction)
up (location)
use (n)
he used to...
usually
uncail (m)
faoi (+ lenition)
bunchimeach
bunchim (m)
tuig, ag tuigbheilU / ag tuiscint
dfhostaithe
ollscoil (f)
go dt
suas
thuas
sid (f)
ba ghnch dU...
de ghnth
V
vacation
vegetables
vegetarian
very
videocamera
videotape
video recorder
visit
vitamins
voice
laethanta saoire
glasra
feoilsantir (m)
an-, iontachU
fscheamara (m)
fstip (f)
fsthaifeadn (m)
cairt (f)
vitimn
guth (m)
W
wait (for)
wait a minute
fan (le), ag fanacht

fan bomaiteU/nimad (m)
176
waiter
wake
waking state
Wales
walk
walkman
freastala (m)
disigh, ag diseacht
diseacht
an Bhreatain Bheag (f)
siil, ag sil
seinnteoir (m);
dlthdhiosca pearsanta
nigh, ag n
bocsaU/bosca bruscair (m)
uaireadir (m)
amharcU/ fachM/ breathnaighC
ag amharc ar an teilifs
uisce (m)
muid, muidinne
lag
saibhir
an greasn (m)
suomh grasin (m)
bainis (f)
seachtain (f)
deireadh seachtaine (m)
filte (f), filte romhat
bhuel
go maith
Breatnach
Breatnais (f)
fliuch
scannn (m) buachaill b
cad ?U, caid?U
c huair?U, cathain?
nuair
c, c hit?
uisce (m) beatha
bn
c?
cad chuige?
baintreach (f)
bean chile (f)
gaoth (f)
fuinneog (f)
fon (m); fon bn / dearg
geimhreadh (m)
wash
waste basket
watch (n)
watch (vb)
watching tv
water
we
weak
wealthy
the web
website
wedding
week
weekend
welcome, you're welcome
well!
well, healthy
Welsh (person or thing)
Welsh language
wet
Western (movie)
what?
when?
when
where?
whiskey
white
who?
why?
widow, widower
wife
wind
window
wine; white / red wine
winter
with
177
without
woman
wonder, surprise
wonderful
work (n)
work (vb)
worker
world
worried
write
writer
writing
wrong
gan ((+ lenition)

bean (f)
iontas (m)
iontach
obair, cuid (f) oibre
ag obair
oibr (m)
domhan (m)
buartha
scrobh, ag scrobh
scrbhneoir (m)
scrbhneoireacht (f)
contrilte, mcheart
Y
year
yellow
yesterday
yet
yonder
you (pl)
you (sg)
young
bliain (f)
bu
inn
go fill
daU, d
sibh, sibhse
t, th, tusa
g
178
GEARRLIOSTA B RIATHRA: A SELECT VERB LIST

The three forms listed for each verb are, in that order, the second singular imperative (`go!')
which in Irish is the same as the verbal stem, the first person singular present tense (I go'), and
the verbal noun (`going'), which is either masculine (m) or feminine (f). Irregular verbs are
printed in bold. Superscript U (for Ulster) denotes an Ulster dialect variant.
Regular verbs follow one of two conjugations. All monosyllabic stems take the first
conjugation; all polysyllabic stems in -igh take the second conjugation. In the case of
polysyllabic verbs which have a different ending, their conjugation has been indicated by a bold 1
or 2, followed by a letter A, B, or C to refer to subdivisions (based on Mac Congil 2004, 117f).
Thus polysyllabic second-conjugation stems that syncopate (e.g. freagair) are marked 2B, and
second-conjugation polysyllables that do not syncopate (e.g. foghlaim) are marked 2C.
A
adhlaic! adhlacaim; ag adhlacadh (m) 1C
admhaigh! adhmam, ag adhmil (f)
aistrigh! aistrm; ag aistri (m)
aithin! aithnm; ag aithint (f) 2B
aontaigh! aontam; ag aont (m)
athraigh! athram; ag athr (m)
athscrobh! athscrobhaim; ag athscrobh (m) 1C
bury
admit
translate
recognize
agree
change
rewrite, copy, transcribe
bigh! bim; ag b (m) / ag bthadh (m)U 1A

bcil! bclaim; ag bcil (f) 1B
bagair! bagram; ag bagairt (f) 2B
bailigh! bailm; ag baili (m)
bain! bainim; ag baint (f)
beannaigh! beannam; ag beann (m)
beartaigh! beartam; ag beart (m)
bic! bicim; ag biceadh (m)
beir! beirim; ag breith (f)
b! tim /t mU; a bheith
blais! blaisim; ag blaiseadh (m)
bog! bogaim; ag bogadh (m)
breathnaigh! breathnam; ag breathn (m)
bris! brisim; ag briseadh (m)
brostaigh! brostam; ag brost (m)
brigh! brim; ag br (m) 1A
buail! buailim; ag bualadh (m)
buaigh! buaim; ag buachan (f) 1A
drown (tr.)
bake
threaten
collect, gather
pick, extract
bless, greet
plan
yell
bear; take
be
taste
soften; move
observe, look
break
hurry; urge
press
hit
win
C
179
cabhraigh! cabhram; ag cabhr (m)

caill! caillim; ag cailleadh (m)
cin! cinim; ag cineadh (m)
caith! caithim; ag caitheamh (m)
can! canaim; ag canadh (m)
caoin! caoinim; ag caoineadh (m)
cas! casaim; ag casadh (m)
ceadaigh! ceadam; ag cead (m)
ceangail! ceanglam; ag ceangal (m) 2B
ceannaigh! ceannam; ag ceannach (m)
ceap! ceapaim; ag ceapadh (m)
ceartaigh! ceartam, ag ceart (m)
ceil! ceilim; ag ceilt (f)
ceiliir! ceiliraim, ag ceiliradh (m) 1C
ceistigh! ceistm; ag ceisti (m)
ciallaigh! ciallam; ag ciall (m)
cor! coraim; ag coradh (m)
cleachtaigh! cleachtaim; ag cleachtadh (m)
clis! clisim; ag cliseadh (m)
clbhuail! clbhuailim; ag clbhualadh (m) 1C
clois! cloisim; ag cloisteil (f)
clscrobh! clscrobhaim; ag clscrobh (m)
cldaigh! cldam; ag cldach (m)
cluin! cluinim; ag cluinstin (f)
cnag! cnagaim; ag cnagadh (m)
cniotil! cniotlaim; ag cniotil (f) 1B
cnuasaigh! cnuasam; ag cnuasach (m)
cirigh! cirm; ag ciri (m)
comhlon! comhlonaim; ag comhlonadh (m) 1C
cnaigh! cnam; ag cna (m)
corraigh! corram; ag corra (m)
cosnaigh! cosnam; ag cosaint (f)
crigh! crim; ag cr (m)
creid! creidim; ag creidiint (f)/creidbheil (f)U
crochnaigh! crochnam; ag crochn (m)
crith! crithim; ag crith (m)
croch! crochaim; ag crochadh (m)
crom! cromaim; ag cromadh (m)
cruaigh! cruaim; ag cruachan (f)
crigh! crim; ag cr (m) 1A
cruinnigh! cruinnm; ag cruinni (m)
cruthaigh! crutham; ag cruth (m)
cuidigh! cuidm; ag cuidi (m)
180
help
lose
condemn; fine
throw, spend, smoke, wear
sing
weep
turn, twist
allow
tie, connect
buy
think, invent
correct
hide
celebrate
question
mean; explain
comb
practise
jump, start; fail
print
hear
type(write)
cover
hear
knock
knit
gather
arrange, dress
fulfil
live, dwell
move, stir
defend; cost
annoy, torment
believe, think
finish
shake, tremble
hang
bend, stoop
harden (tr. & intr.)
milk
gather, collect (tr. & intr.)
form, shape, prove
help
cuimhnigh! cuimhnm; ag cuimhneamh (m)

cuir! cuirim; ag cur (m)
cum! cumaim; ag cumadh (m)
remember
put
compose, shape
D
dealaigh! dealam; ag deal (m)
dan! danaim; ag danamh (m)
dearbhaigh! dearbham; ag dearbh (m)
deimhnigh! deimhnm; ag deibhniu (m)
abair! deirim; ag r (m)
deisigh! deism; ag deisi (m)
dol! dolaim; ag dol (m)
drigh! drm; ag dri (m)
diltaigh! diltam; ag dilt (m)
digh! dim; ag d (m) 1A
druid! druidim; ag druidim (f) / ag drudU
disigh! dism; ag diseacht (f)
dn! dnaim; ag dnadh (m)
separate; subtract
do, make
swear, declare
affirm; certify
say
fix
sell; pay U
straighten
refuse, deny
burn
approach, close in on / closeU
wake (tr. & intr.)
close
E
eagraigh! eagram; ag eagr (m)
alaigh! alam; al (m)
irigh! irm; ag ir (m)
ist! istm; ag isteacht (f)
eitil! eitlm; ag eitilt (f) 2B
arrange, organize
escape, elope
get up, rise
listen
fly, fllutter
F
fg! fgaim; ag fgil (f)
faigh! faighim; ag fil (f)
fan! fanaim; fanacht (m)
fs! fsaim; ag fs (m)
fach! fachaim; fachaint (f) / ag fachil (f)U
feic! feicim; ag feiceil (f)
fiafraigh! fiafram; ag fiafra (m)
fill! fillim; ag filleadh (m) / pill! pillim; ag pilleadhU
foghlaim! foghlaimm; ag foghlaim (f) 2C
fgair! fgram; ag fgairt (f) 2B
foilsigh! foilsm; ag foilsi (m)
foscail!U see oscail!
freagair! freagram; ag freagairt (f) 2B
freastail! freastalam; ag freastal (m) 2C
fulaing! fulaingm; ag fulaingt (f) 2C
181
leave s.th.
get, find
wait, stay
grow
look; try
see
ask, enquire
return
learn
announce
publish
open
respond
attend, serve
suffer
geall! geallaim; ag gealladh (m) / ag geallstanU

gearr! gearraim; ag gearradh (m)
gill! gillim; gilleadh
glac! glacaim; ag glacadh (m)
glan! glanaim; ag glanadh (m)
glaoigh! glaoim; ag glaoch (m) 1A
goid! goidim; ag goid (f)
goin! goinim; ag goin (f)
gortaigh! gortam, ag gort (m)
guigh! gum; ag gu (f) 1A
promise
cut
yield
take
clean
call
steal
wound
hurt, injure
pray
I
iarr! iarraim; ag iarraidh (f)
imigh! imm; ag imeacht (m)
imir! imrm; ag imirt (f) 2B
inis! insm; ag insint (f) / ag inseU 2B
oc! ocaim; ag oc (m)
iompair! iompram; ag iompar (m) 2B
sligh! slm; ag sli (m)
ith! ithim; ag ithe (f)
ask for, want

leave (intrans.)
play
tell
pay
carry
lower
eat
L
labhair! labhram; ag labhairt (f) 2B
las! lasaim; ag lasadh (m)
leag! leagaim; ag leagan (m)
lean! leanaim; ag leanint (f)
ligh! lim; ag lamh (m) 1A
lim! limim; ag lim (f)
lirigh! lirm; ag liri (m)
lig! ligim; ag ligean (m)
lon! lonaim; ag lonadh (m)
litrigh! litrm; ag litri (m)
luaigh! luaim; ag lua (m) 1A
luigh! lum; ag lu (m) 1A
speak
light, burn
knock down
follow
read
jump
explain, produce
allow
fill
spell
mention, cite
lie, lie down
maraigh! maram; ag mar (m) / ag marbhadh (m)U39

39
kill
In Ulster, maraigh takes an f-future / conditional, and in those tenses, the stem is pronounced as if it were
written muir-: muirfidh s m; mhuirfeadh s m ( Baoill 1996, 144).
182
meall! meallaim; ag mealladh (m)

meas! measaim; ag meas (m)
measc! meascaim; ag meascadh (m)
mill! millim; ag milleadh (m)
mnigh! mnm; ag mni (m)
mol! molaim; ag moladh (m)
mothaigh! motham; ag moth (m) / ag mothachtilU
mch! mchaim; ag mchadh (m)
min! minim; ag mineadh [mu:nuU] (m)
mn! mnaim; ag mnadh (m)
muscail! musclam; ag muscailt (f) 2B
woo, entice
think, estimate
mix
spoil
explain
praise
hear; perceive, feel
extinguish
teach
urinate
wake, awake
N
nigh! nm; ag nigh (f) 1A
wash
O
l! laim; ag l (m)
oscail! osclam; ag oscailt (f) / foscail! fosclam; ag foscladhU 2B
drink
open
P
pacil! paclaim; ag pacil (f) 1B
pioc! piocaim; ag piocadh (m)
pligh! plim; ag pl (m) 1A
pg! pgaim; ag pgadh (m)
ps! psaim; ag psadh (m)
pack
pick
dispute
kiss
marry
R
rab! rabaim; ag rabadh (m)
ritigh! ritm; ag riteach (m)
rith! rithim; ag rith (m)
roinn! roinnim; ag roinnt (f)
tear apart, rend

solve, clear
run
divide
S
sbhil! sbhlaim; ag sbhilt (f) 1B
samhlaigh! samhlam; ag samhl (m)
scaoil! scaoilim; ag scaoileadh (m)
scairt! scairtim; ag scairteadh (m) / ag scairtighU
scrach! scrachaim; ag scrachach (f)
scread! screadaim; ag screadach (f) / ag screadaighU
scrobh! scrobhaim; ag scrobh (m)
scrios! scriosaim; ag scriosadh (m)
183
save
imagine
release
call, shout
screach
scream
write
destroy
scrdaigh! scrdam; ag scrd (m)

scuab! scuabaim; ag scuabadh (m)
seas! seasaim; ag seasamh (m)
sl! slim; ag sleadh (m) / ag silstin (f)U
sn! snim; ag sneadh (m)
snigh! snm; ag sni (m)
siil! silaim; ag sil (m)
smaoinigh! smaoinm; ag smaoineadh (m) / ag smaoiteamh (m)U
socraigh! socram; ag socr (m)
spreag! spreagaim; ag spreagadh (m)
sroich! sroichim; ag sroicheadh (m)
stad! stadaim; ag stad (m)
stop! stopaim; ag stopadh (m)
suigh! sum; ag su (m) 1A
examine
brush
stand
think
stretch
sign
walk
think
settle, arrange
urge, inspire
reach, arrive at
stop
stop, stay
sit
T
tabhair! tugaim; ag tabhairt (f)
taispein! taispenaim; ag taispeint (f) 1C
taistil! taistealam; ag taisteal (m) 2C
tar! tagaim; ag teacht (m)
tarlaigh! tarlam; ag tarl (m)
tarraing! tarraingm; ag tarraingt (f) 2C
tigh! tim; ag dul (m)
teip! teipim; ag teip (f)
tiomin! tiominim; tiomint (f) 1C
tit! titim; ag titim (f)
tg! tgaim; ag tgaint (f)
togh! toghaim; ag toghadh (m)
tosaigh! tosam; ag tos (m) / toisigh! toism; ag toiseachtU
troid! troidim; ag troid (f)
tuig! tuigim; ag tuiscint (f) / ag tuigbheilU
give
show
travel
come
happen
pull
go
fail
drive
fall
take, raise
choose, elect
begin
fight
understand
U
ullmhaigh! ullmham; ag ullmh (m)
sid! sidim; ag sid (f) 1C
prepare
use
V
vtil! vtilm; ag vtil 1B
vote
184
INDEX OF S ONGS , PROVERBS ,
AND R HYMES
(Numbers refer to lessons in which material is covered)

A haon is a d, caora agus b... (rann) #9
Ahem ahem! Anocht Oche Shamhna! (rann) #7
Aithnonn ciarg ... (seanfhocal) #10
A Nra Bheag (amhrn) #6
Aon, d, tr, fathach mr bu... (rann) #8
Bean Phidn (amhrn) #3
Bh nire ar Mhire (casfhocal) #6
Bonn an fhrinne searbh (seanfhocal) #10
Bonn sil le muir ach n bhonn sil le tr (seanfhocal) #10
Bonn gach tosach lag (seanfhocal) #10
Bonn silach scalach (seanfhocal) #10
Buail ar an doras... (rann) #8
Cad a thann suas... (tomhas) #10
Caithimid suas is suas... (amhrn) #8
C mhad pingin? (tomhas) #9
Carl na Nollag (amhrn) #10
Ceart dom, ceart duit (seanfhocal) #8
C h sin amuigh... (amhrn) #1
Cuireadh do Mhuire (dn le Mirtn Direin) #10
Danann neart ceart (seanfhocal) #10
Danann sparn trom cro adrom (seanfhocal) #10
Dh inn bheaga... (rann) #8
Dia do bheatha a Na anocht (Carl na Nollag) #10
Dnall ar meisce... (rann) #7
Dreoiln, dreoiln... (rann) #10
Drochubh, drochan (seanfhocal) #3
amonn an Chnoic (amhrn) #1
irigh suas a stirn (amhrn) #8
Fear an Phoist (dn le Tadhg Mac Dhonnchadha) #6
Giorraonn beirt bthar (seanfhocal) #10
I d'ige oscail do mheabhair... (rann) #8
Inis scal... (rann) #8
Inniu an Domhnach ... (rann) #7
Is binn bal ina thost (seanfhocal) #5
Is buaine cl n saol (seanfhocal) #2
Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste... (seanfhocal) #2
Is fearr rith maith... (seanfhocal) #3
Is leor don dreoiln... (seanfhocal) #10
Is maith an sceala an aimsir (seanfhocal) #5
Is maith liom bainne... (rann) #2
185
INDICES
Is maith le Nra... (amhrn) #2

Is maith an t-anlann... (seanfhocal) #2
Is mr an rud gr... (seanfhocal) #2
Is trom an t-ualach... (seanfhocal) #2
Is an trua ghar nach mise... (amhrn) #3
Mair a chapail (seanfhocal) #?
Mise agus tusa... (casfhocal) #1
Marbh le tae... (seanfhocal) #2
Molann an obair an fear (seanfhocal) #10
Na cait a bh ag Fionn Mac Cumhail (rann) #3
N dan ns... (seanfhocal) #8
Nl uasal n hseal... (seanfhocal) #8
Nl s amuigh ort... (tomhas) #4
Nl s ina l (amhrn) #5, #9
Nuair a bh m g... (rann) #9
Nuair a bhonn an braon istigh... (seanfhocal) #10
Nl ann ach mn an dreoiln (seanfhocal) #10
Oche chiin, oche Mhic D (amhrn) #10
Lnasa go Samhain... (rann) #7
L 'le Shan Sein go L 'le Mchl... (rann) #7
Pingin, pingin, dh phingin (tomhas) #9
Rtha Frinneacha na Bliana (rann) #7
Rtha Cama na Bliana (rann) #7
T an Deisceart go hlainn... (rann) #4
T m i mo shu d'irigh an ghealach (amhrn) #5
T mo chleamhnas danta (amhrn) #9
T sicn ina seasamh... (casfhocal) #5
Tarraingonn scal scal eile (seanfhocal) #10
Tir abhaile 'ri (amhrn) #4
Tic, toc an gcluineann t m? (rann) #10
186
INDICES
SUBJECT INDEX
activities #5, #8
appearance #4
body parts #3
Christmas #11
classroom #1
colours #3
countries & languages #5, #7
daily routine #10
directions #8; going somewhere (chuig; go; go dt) #9
illnesses #4
days of the week #7
family #3, #9
farmyard animals #2
feelings #4
food #2, #9
greetings #1; in a letter #8; Christmas ~ #11
Halloween #7
house #6
introductions #1
knowledge (factual; personal; expertise) #5
languages & countries #5, #7
letter writing #8
likes and dislikes #2
loanwords #1
names (first ~) #8
numbers 1-10 #9, #10
professions #3, #7
terms of endearment #8
Thanksgiving #9
time of day #10
vacation #11
weather #5
187
INDICES
GRAMMAR INDEX
adjective:
predicative use #4-#5
attributive use, with masculine/feminine noun #2
prefixed adjectives #2
adverb go maith #4
article, definite #2
aspect & direction #8
copula:
classification #1
identification #3
dative case #6
days of the week #7
dental rule (prevention of lenition when d/t/s is preceded by `n') #2
directions #8
eclipsis (ur) #3
emphatic pronouns and particles #1
imperative #8
lenition #2
noun:
feminine & masculine #2
vocative case #8
dative case #6
numbers #9, #10
past participles #5
prefixed adjectives: droch-, sean- #2
prefixed intensifyers: an-, for-, r-, iontach #4
prefixing `h' #2
prepositional pronouns: le #2; ar #4; ag, i #5; do, de #8; chuig #9; , roimh #11
present progressive #5
pronouns:
independent ~ #1
emphatic ~ #1
possessive ~ #3; t m i mo shu #5; t m i mo mhac linn #7
prepositional ~ #2 (le), #4 (ar), #5 (ag, i), #8 (do, de), #9 (chuig), #11 (, roimh)
simhi (lenition) #2
substantive verb:
present tense #4
past tense #6
future tense #7
188
INDICES
present habitual #10

time of day #10
ur (eclipsis) #3
verb:
present tense #10
past tense #9
present habitual #10
present progressive #5
future tense, #11
perfect tense with past participle #5
189

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Bunts na Gaeilge

Irish for Adult Learners

Barbara Hillers with Bettina Kimpton

Textbook for Celtic 132: Introduction to Modern Irish

S OME W ORDS AND PHRASES FREQUENTLY USED IN CLASS

I don't quite follow...

CLR / TABLE OF C ONTENTS

Sil Siar (Revision): Ceacht 4 - Ceacht 7.................................................................................. 74

Foclir Barla-Gaeilge ........................................................................................................... 154

For the learner, an introduction to a consistent regional dialect was thought to be

a discussion of grammar (an ceacht gramada), illustrated with model sentences

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

is (3 sg verb `to be')

I. Sen and Mire introduce themselves.

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

Sen: Is as Bal Feirste m. Agus t fin?

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

2. The Demonstrative Pronouns seo and sin

This (is a) pen.

Here she is.

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

3. An Chopail (The Copula)

What is this? It's a book.

3.1. `Yes' and `No'

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

Is that a pen? No, it's a pencil.

4. Ainmfhocal agus Aidiacht (Masculine Noun and Adjective)

5. Beannachta (Greetings and Introductions)

5.3. Asking where someone's from

Where are you from?

5.4. Saying goodbye

Bye-bye (literally `may you go safely')

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

What is that? That's a pen.

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

5. Cluiche Cainte (`Oral Game'): Postanna (`Jobs')

6. Add adjectives to the following sentences:

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

3. Isnt she a good teacher?

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

I and you and the pig's tail.

CEACHT A HAON / LESSON ONE

terms describing luxury goods:

CEACHT A D / LESSON TWO

1.1. The definite article causes lenition of feminine nouns:

CEACHT A D / LESSON TWO

article will prefix a `t':

but it will prefix a `t-'12 to masculine nouns beginning with a vowel:

2. An tAinmfhocal agus an Aidiacht (Feminine Noun and Adjective)

assembly; the Dil (Irish legislature)

CEACHT A D / LESSON TWO

the good man

3. Forainmneacha Ramhfhoclacha: An Ramhfhocail le (Prepositional Pronouns: the

Like the personal pronoun, the prepositional pronoun also has

3.2. Liom Fin

3.3. Prefixing `h'

CEACHT A D / LESSON TWO

Is maith le hine fon dearg.

ine likes red wine.

4. Copula Sentences With le

4.2 Other Idioms with le

CEACHT A D / LESSON TWO

An maith leat tae?